A world-leading University of Waterloo spinoff company, that decodes blood samples for potential treatments for illnesses such as cancer and COVID-19, is expanding operations with the support of a 5-million USD investment.

Bin Ma, a University of Waterloo computer engineering professor who co-founded Rapid Novor at 2015, says that the company's technologies is the most innovative in the world in regards to deciphering the complex workings of antibody proteins, a process called sequencing.

<em>The long-term goal is to profile all antibodies in human blood and ultimately provide a brand new way to diagnose disease. Compared to other protein sequencing technologies, we are faster and more accurate, allowing more complex samples. We are the only team in the world that can sequence antibody proteins from blood directly.”</em>-Bin Ma, Computer Science Professor, University of Waterloo

Among other endeavors, Ma's group is currently decoding the antibodies in the bloodstream of patients who are recovering from COVID-19 with the hopes that the info can be utilized to create new remedies. Even the National Research Council of Canada, through its Industrial Research Assistance Program, has also granted the Quick Novor staff a grant to encourage the human coronavirus work.

<em>The team’s track record for innovation and their ambitious goal to decode immunity attracted us. Rapid Novor has built a team of world-class scientists and practitioners in proteomics and bioinformatics. Their unique technologies will have profound impact in the life sciences industry. We are thrilled to be part of this innovative team.”</em>-Eric Wen, Partner, Co-Win Venture

The recent $5-million USD financing round, led by Co-Win Venture, enables Quick Novor, which only tripled its office space at Catalyst 137 in Kitchener, Ont., to engage additional scientists.

Ma says his team has developed a sensitive, non-invasive blood test to monitor patients with multiple myeloma, a sort of blood cancer growing in bone marrow. The test detects a cancer relapse six months earlier than regular medical care.
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