Non-invasive scan to detect early liver disease - Isis Innovation

Non-invasive scan to detect early liver diseaseOxford, UK, 11 th April, 2013Oxford scientists have developed a new technique that can spot early liver disease. Atpresent, liver disease can only be accurately determined by an invasive biopsy, as thereare no tell-tale symptoms. The new scan uses standard MRI technology and costs half asmuch as a biopsy.The scan was developed by a team from the Radcliffe Department of Medicine at theUniversity of Oxford and the latest Isis Innovation spin-out, Perspectum Diagnostics. IsisInnovation is the technology transfer company of Oxford University.Nearly 15 million people in the UK are affected by some form of liver disease. Most sufferfrom fatty liver disease, which has been linked to obesity, diabetes and alcohol abuse.Liver disease is associated with early death and cancer. The Chief Medical Officer forEngland identified liver disease as a priority for the NHS in her report on the state of thenation's health. The new scan will allow early, pain-free detection, and treatments such asdietary changes, drugs and exercise to be tailored for individual patients. Dr RajarshiBanerjee, Chief Clinical Scientist for Perspectum Diagnostics, said: “A real breakthroughis that doctors will be able to detect which overweight adults and children have liverdisease and how it is progressing. Conservative estimates suggest at least 1.5 millionchildren across the EU are affected.”Prof Stefan Neubauer, Director of the Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic ResonanceResearch, and a Non-executive Director of Perspectum Diagnostics, said: “The simplenon-invasive procedure may also facilitate pre-emptive scanning of patients in high riskgroups and getting effective treatment before the most obvious and worrying symptomsdevelop. Treating patients in the early stages of liver disease will save lives and ourhealth care system considerable expense.”Tom Hockaday, Managing Director of Isis Innovation said: “Isis is proud to have a role inthe development of Perspectum Diagnostics. With its incorporation, both patients andthe wider medical community will realise the benefits of this important technology.”~ ENDS ~Isis Innovation LtdEwert House, Ewert Place, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7SGT +44 (0)1865 280830 F +44 (0)1865 280831 E innovation@isis.ox.ac.uk www.isis-innovation.comCompany No 2199542 Registered Office: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD VAT No 490 7988 85

On the Isis website:http://www.isis-innovation.com/news/news/Noninvasive_scan_to_detect_early_liver_disease.htmlContact details for PerspectumMedia enquiries to:Diagnostics:Dr Rajarshi BanerjeePerspectum Diagnostics Ltd.99 Milton Park,Abingdon,OX14 4RY, UKDr Chandra RamanujanBusiness Relationships ManagerIsis Innovation Ltdchandra.ramanujan@isis.ox.ac.ukT: +44(0)1865614434Rajarshi.banerjee@cardiov.ox.ac.ukAbout PerspectumThe founders of Perspectum Diagnostics all work at the University of Oxford. They areleading global experts in diagnostic medicine, medical physics and image analysis, withmany years’ experience in the commercialisation of medical imaging software. TheChairman is Sir Michael Brady, Professor of Oncological Imaging in the Department ofOncology of the University of Oxford, and a serial entrepreneur. The directors areProfessor Stefan Neubauer, a world-leading imaging scientist with 25 years of experiencein the field, Dr Matthew Robson, a leading MR physicist who has pioneered many new MRdevelopments over the past 20 years, and Dr Rajarshi Banerjee, the company’s ChiefClinical Scientist, all of whom are part of the Radcliffe Department of Medicine at theUniversity of Oxford.About Isis InnovationIsis Innovation is the research and technology commercialisation company of the Universityof Oxford. The Technology Transfer and Oxford University Consulting divisions provideaccess to technological developments and expertise from University of Oxford researchers,through intellectual property licensing, spin-out company formation, material sales andconsulting.Isis is the highest University patent filer in the UK, has attracted investment into over 65spin-out companies since 2000, and in the last financial year provided expertise to over 150clients in 22 countries. Through the Isis Enterprise division, Isis offers innovationmanagement to university, government and industrial clients around the world. For updateson innovations from Oxford, follow Isis on LinkedIn and Twitter or subscribe at www.isisinnovation.comRef: PR134/2Isis Innovation LtdEwert House, Ewert Place, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7SGT +44 (0)1865 280830 F +44 (0)1865 280831 E innovation@isis.ox.ac.uk www.isis-innovation.comCompany No 2199542 Registered Office: University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD VAT No 490 7988 85