Naval Research Laboratory Licenses Biosensor Technology to Seahawk Biosystems Veterinary Diagnostics
Seahawk Biosystems Corporation, currently developing a multi-use, multiplexed veterinary diagnostic system, announced today that it has secured a license from the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. for a suite of biochemical testing technologies. Seahawk has licensed three technologies from NRL, which includes two issued patents and one patent pending.
Seahawk’s new veterinary diagnostic system is based on the Naval Research Laboratory’s (NRL) patented Bead ARray Counter (BARC) magnetic microarray technology combined with proprietary assay protocols that greatly reduce the incidence of false positives and false negatives. This unique and proven combination of technologies makes Seahawk’s system more versatile, sensitive, and specific than other veterinary diagnostic systems currently on the market. Moreover, the inherent simplicity of NRL’s testing methods when integrated with magnetic microarray detection makes the system more compact and affordable than competing products. In most cases, costly, time consuming steps required to amplify or enrich the samples are greatly reduced or eliminated entirely.
Seahawk plans to introduce the diagnostic system to the $3.5 billion companion animal diagnostics market in 2006. This tabletop system will allow veterinarians to perform a panel of tests simultaneously in the clinic during a single visit in order to provide better veterinary care to the 140 million pet dogs and cats in the United States.
“We are impressed with the team, the investors and the commercialization plan that Seahawk has put together for the application of NRL’s biosensor technologies to the veterinary market,” said Jane Kuhl, Head of the Technology Transfer Office at NRL. “The advantages that the NRL technologies provide to the venture positively reflect on the quality of research by Drs. Richard Colton, Lloyd Whitman, and their team.”
“We have been working on this research area for almost a decade and have two generations of prototypes developed and tested thus far. It is exciting to see the fruits of our labor being put to use outside a laboratory setting,” said Dr. Colton, Head of the NRL’s Surface Chemistry Branch.
Besides being excited about the maturity and robustness of the technology, Curt Bilby of Seahawk was very impressed with the licensing process at NRL. “The Technology Transfer Office at NRL was very professional and quite knowledgeable of business requirements. Overall, the licensing process was very streamlined–both from a technology and administrative perspective.”
Coincident to licensing the technology, Seahawk and NRL entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement where NRL will continue their research in advancing the capabilities of the technology.
“We have some definitive ideas of what our methods can do and how to improve the capabilities and performance of Seahawk’s diagnostic system. We have a very strong team with considerable experience and expertise to bring to these types of problems,” said Dr. Whitman, Head of the Surface Nanoscience and Sensor Technology Section where the research is performed. “We look forward to working closely with Seahawk and their partners to bring this technology to market.”
Dr. Marta Howerton of NRL’s Technology Transfer Office added, “The Seahawk/NRL team is very focused on advancing the biosensor technology. The complementary nature of the research program will be beneficial to both organizations.”
About the Naval Research Laboratory
NRL is the corporate research laboratory for the Navy and Marine Corps and conducts a broad program of scientific research, technology and advanced development. NRL has served the Navy and the nation for 80 years and continues to meet the complex technological challenges of today’s world.
About Seahawk
Seahawk Biosystems Corporation is a private company commercializing patented, innovative biosensor technology from the Naval Research Laboratory. Located in Austin, Texas, Seahawk is committed to provide a robust product line of rapid, cost-effective and accurate biochemical tests for veterinary diagnostics as well as other applications. www.seahawkbio.com
