NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., 24 Feb. 2006. Acacia Research Corporation has announced its CombiMatrix group has established a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRDA) with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, Human Effectiveness Directorate, Biosciences and Protection Division, Applied Biotechnology Branch (AFRL/HEPB). The CRDA will focus on "Development of a Biomonitor Device with Biomarker-based Microarrays."
Under the CRDA, AFRL/HEPB and CombiMatrix will develop a personal health monitoring system utilizing CombiMatrix's CustomArray technology. The goal of the program is to develop a miniaturized device capable of analyzing multiple biomarkers (either DNA or protein) that would aid the U.S. Department of Defense in its mission to effectively monitor the health status of military service personnel before, during, and after deployment where untoward exposures may impact on their performance or health.
"Collaborating with AFRL/HEPB through this CRDA, provides a means for us to work with investigators who are concerned with Force Health Protection. This program is the result of a Presidential Directive and is focused on monitoring the health of all Service members while they are on active duty," says Dr. David Danley, Director of Homeland Defense for CombiMatrix. "Scientists at AFRL are looking at the relationships of genetics, physiology, and environmental stressors that can reduce human performance or lead to acute or chronic health problems. Our microarray technologies will allow them to take expanded capabilities to the field where adverse events occur and palliative intervention needs to be initiated."
Acacia Research Corporation comprises two operating groups, Acacia Technologies group and CombiMatrix group.
The CombiMatrix group is developing a platform technology to rapidly produce customizable arrays, which are semiconductor-based tools for use in identifying and determining the roles of genes, gene mutations, and proteins. The CombiMatrix's group's technology has a wide range of potential applications in the areas of genomics, proteomics, biosensors, drug discovery, drug development, diagnostics, combinatorial chemistry, material sciences, and nanotechnology.
The Acacia Technologies group develops, acquires, and licenses patented technologies.
