Melanie Ott

Simplifying miRNA Detection for Disease Screening and Diagnosis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers for early detection of a wide range of diseases, including cancers, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative conditions. Despite their diagnostic potential, miRNAs have yet to reach clinical practice due to limitations of current detection methods, which rely on RNA extraction, reverse transcription, and amplification—steps that introduce cost, complexity, and error. The team has developed a novel, amplification-free approach to miRNA detection using a modified CRISPR-Cas13a system that enables direct, quantitative measurement of miRNAs in unprocessed samples. This method uses a unique guide architecture that activates a Cas13a enzyme upon miRNA binding, producing a fluorescent signal proportional to miRNA concentration. The team’s platform simplifies sample processing and is adaptable to a broad range of miRNA sequences, enabling rapid customization of biomarker panels.

With a Bakar Award, the Fletcher and Ott labs will move their miRNA to commercialization. The team has demonstrated proof-of-concept measurements in cell extracts and will develop miRNA panels for early disease detection in collaboration with UCSF tissue banks, focusing initially on breast cancer and prostate cancer. A patent is pending, and the team has a clear commercialization pathway, including assay optimization, clinical validation, and strategic partnerships. Their goal is to launch a startup offering customizable diagnostic panels and turnkey assays, with longterm plans to develop dedicated readers for use in small clinics and medical offices. The interdisciplinary team is well-positioned to bring miRNA diagnostics to market, making early disease detection accessible across healthcare settings.