UK pioneer wins European Inventor Award for research
18 Jun 2014 10:37 AM
Professor Christofer
Toumazou wins the prestigious European Inventor Award 2014 for
research.
Pioneering UK inventor,
Professor Christofer Toumazou, has won the prestigious European Inventor Award
2014 for research.
The prize was presented by UK
Minister for Intellectual Property Lord Younger at a gala ceremony in Berlin on
17 June 2014.
Jointly developed with Imperial
College London and DNA Electronics Ltd, his invention allows quick
analysis of DNA, both inside and outside a laboratory, using a microchip
that can easily be inserted into a USB stick.
Lord Younger
said:
Professor Toumazou’s award
further emphasises Britain’s reputation as a nation of innovators and
entrepreneurs. His patents in the field of personalised medical diagnostics, in
particular the DNA test on a USBstick, provide a ground breaking
discovery for healthcare and patients.
Our businesses and inventors,
like Professor Toumazou, bring a creative and innovative approach to their work
and it is right that they are recognised in this way. I congratulate him on his
award.
European Patent Office President
Benoît Battistelli said:
One of the most significant
challenges in healthcare research is to meet the needs of individual patients.
Thanks to the efforts of Professor Toumazou, applications in this field have
become much faster, more efficient and more economical.
With the help of patents, we can
also spread inventions like these very effectively, which benefits millions of
people worldwide.
Professor Toumazou’s
rapid DNA test uses a microchip that detects genetic disorders
on-the-spot. It can identify every form of genetic deviation in the genome in
just a matter of minutes. This makes it possible to detect a predisposition for
hereditary diseases as well as to determine whether a patient is capable of
breaking down specific drugs. The chip can be mounted on a USB stick,
so that results can be quickly viewed on a computer.
Notes to
editors
- Professor Toumazou holds more
than 50 patents and had his method for rapid DNA testing patented in
2001. In 2003, he founded DNA Electronics in order to develop and
market the chip technology. The company has licensed the technology to the
cosmetics company GENEU among others.DNA Electronics is currently
preparing the development of a new product line of DNA testing
devices.
- Professor Toumazou’s
microchip can easily be inserted into a USB stick, thereby providing
fast results on a computer. Pharmacies could soon offer this quick
“do-it-yourself” DNA test as a kind of “pocket
lab” for everyone. Using a chip, consumers can get the texture of their
skin analysed and establish how hydrated it is. Based on this data, they can
then match their skin care products to their genetic profile.
- A total of 300 inventors and
inventor teams were put forward for this year’s award, 15 of who were
selected as finalists by the international jury. This year’s inventions
cover the fields of biotechnology, construction, environment, mechanics,
medical technology and pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and traffic
safety.
- Scientists, engineers and
inventors, whose inventions have made a major contribution towards social,
technological and economic progress, were honoured across 5
categories.