Our R&D Programs

Conventional extraction methods are generally designed for relatively small urine volumes, often up to 50 mL, whereas a full adult void can, on average, contain up to 400 mL. When biomarkers occur at extremely low concentrations, processing a larger volume can increase the total number of biomarker molecules available for recovery. Volume alone is not sufficient: achieving consistently high recovery efficiency is equally important to maximize the biomarker input for downstream testing.

This challenge provided the rationale for our vision and gave rise to the Qatra R&D Program: a modular platform for lab and at-home biomarker extraction from urine. Whether targeting genomic DNA, cell-free DNA, RNA, extracellular vesicles, proteins or other, the platform adapts to the research needs: simply switch modules (beads for laboratory workflows or cartridges for at-home collection and extraction). The Qatra platform is developed to process a full urine void of up to 400 mL and maximizes the recovery of specific biomarkers for downstream molecular analysis. The workflow is also designed to support automation, scalability, and cost-efficient laboratory implementation.

Clinically actionable assays. The Qumbra R&D Program translates the biological signals, extracted from urine, into clinically meaningful insights in the field of oncology. Starting with a clearly defined unmet medical need, we develop assays that analyse selected urinary biomarkers and use interpretive software to assess the results. Findings are presented in a clear clinical report, providing healthcare professionals and patients with additional information to support decisions along the care pathway. Our current in-house R&D is focused on developing a test to assess an individual’s risk of having bladder cancer.