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Description
During the course of pregnancy, women are facing many health challenges, such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. In addition to those, many other diseases that usually occur later in life could be prevented, if the disease risks are determined in an early stage, such as breast cancer. Genetic factors play a significant role in many of those diseases.
The Competence Centre on Health Technologies (CCHT) is initiating a project intending to develop a testing system that enables to detect with high accuracy the genetic risks of diseases, including those that emerge during pregnancy. Currently, CCHT is offering a test NIPTIFY, which is a non-invasive prenatal testing system that detects fetal chromosomal disorders. The blood sample needed for the test contains both, maternal and fetal DNA. Therefore, the genetic data that is created during the NIPTIFY test can be further analyzed to assess the pregnant woman’s genetic risk scores of various diseases.
The objective of the project is to further develop the testing system and data analysis software to offer a complete testing solution for pregnant women. Since the testing system is based on genetic information, the test will enable to provide a personalized approach and treatment, with the emphasis on precise diagnosis and prevention of complex diseases, thereby supporting the foundations for the development of personalized medicine in Estonia.
A small scheme project will enable to perform preparatory activities for the main project - specification of the test methodology, business and market analysis, competition analysis, and a cooperative partnership will be established with a Norwegian partner. Collaborative relations with the Norwegian partner and cooperation model created within the project will support the market reach out, but also R&D of both countries and the initiation of the following cooperation projects.
Summary of project results
Project activities completed. Project promoter participated in the main call.