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Archived Press Releases
September 28, 2020 - Ceres Nanosciences Receives $243,000 CDC SBIR Phase I Award to Develop Improved Viral Pathogen Surveillance Tools
September 2, 2020 - Ceres Nanosciences Receives $6.5M NIH Award to Expand Nanotrap® Particle Manufacturing Capacity for COVID-19 Testing MANASSAS, Virginia – October 24, 2024 – Today, Ceres Nanosciences (Ceres) announced the launch of the Nanotrap® Protein Enrichment Affinity Kit (PEAK), a new product that uses the Nanotrap hydrogel particle technology to capture and concentrate low abundance, low molecular weight proteins and peptides while simultaneously excluding higher molecular weight proteins. This product launch coincides with a talk at the Biomarkers US 2024 conference, titled “Leveraging ultra-deep proteomes to facilitate network-informed biomarker discovery for precision medicine,” in which a Director of Global Proteomics at a pharmaceutical company presents results demonstrating that the Nanotrap PEAK significantly increases the depth of proteome profiling in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. Nanotrap Protein Enrichment Affinity Kits have three different Nanotrap® Protein Particle chemistries offering unique protein binding profiles. They can be used individually or in combination to enhance the detection of low-abundance proteins and peptides from plasma samples, all with a simple 30-minute enrichment step prior to protein digestion. Each Nanotrap Protein Enrichment Affinity Kit is compatible with serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, or urine samples and integrates seamlessly with a wide range of downstream protein digestion methods. “We understand that researchers need robust protein enrichment tools that deliver deep proteome insights without adding complexity to their workflows,” said Ben Lepene, Chief Technology Officer at Ceres Nanosciences. “That is why we’re thrilled to introduce the Nanotrap Protein Enrichment Affinity Kits, which are simple, versatile, and seamlessly fit into any proteomics pipeline.” Additional product information, including protocols and application notes are available at www.ceresnano.com/nanotrap-peak. ### About Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. Ceres Nanosciences is a privately held company, located in Prince William County, Virginia, focused on incorporating its novel Nanotrap® particle technology into a range of diagnostic and research products and workflows. The Nanotrap® particle technology can improve diagnostic testing by capturing, concentrating, and preserving low abundance analytes from biological samples. The Nanotrap® particle technology was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Virginia Catalyst Program. Learn more, including how Ceres is partnering with leading life science, bio-pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies at www.ceresnano.com. Press Contact: Ross M. Dunlap Ceres Nanosciences, Inc 1.800.615.0418 ext. 202 rdunlap@ceresnano.com www.ceresnano.com
July 2, 2020 - New preprint demonstrates a rapid and versatile method for improving detection of SARS-CoV-2 Ceres Nanosciences and its collaborators at George Mason University have developed a Nanotrap® particle method that significantly improves detection of SARS-CoV-2. In a preprint posted on June 25, 2020, the teams describe how Nanotrap particles enable a rapid method for capturing and concentrating heat-inactivated and infectious SARS-CoV-2. The simple method described in the preprint takes as little as 10 minutes to prepare SARS-CoV-2 RNA for downstream testing and obviates the need for commercial nucleic acid extraction kits. Using contrived samples with heat-inactivated and infectious SARS-CoV-2, the authors demonstrated significant (5- to 25-fold) improvements in real-time RT-PCR detection of the virus from transport medium and saliva samples with both commercial nucleic acid extraction kits and a direct extraction method. Using 49 diagnostic remnant samples, the authors demonstrated that Nanotrap particles can improve detection of SARS-CoV-2 and eliminate false negatives. The method had 100% concordance with all of the samples that previously tested positive, improved the real-time RT-PCR signal by an average of 3.1 Ct values in the low viral load samples, and identified SARS-CoV-2 in 9 out of the 32 samples that had previously tested negative. Finally, the authors demonstrated that the method was able to concentrate infectious SARS-CoV2 from contrived samples and SARS-CoV-2 from diagnostic remnant samples in pooled patient sample mimics, an approach which is a promising way forward to address the massive testing scale-ups that are necessary. “These results build on previous data demonstrating that Nanotrap particles improve detection of influenza, RSV, and other strains of coronavirus, including in multiplex applications,” said Ben Lepene, Ceres Nanoscience Chief Technology Officer and corresponding author on the preprint. “We are very excited about the ongoing adoption of our technology in clinical testing labs around the world.” About Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. Ceres Nanosciences is a privately held company, located in Prince William County, Virginia, focused on incorporating its novel Nanotrap® particle technology into a range of diagnostic and research products and workflows. The Nanotrap® particle technology can improve diagnostic testing by capturing, concentrating, and preserving low abundance analytes from biological samples. The Nanotrap® particle technology was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more, including how Ceres is partnering with leading life science, bio-pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies at www.ceresnano.com. Press Contact: Ross M. Dunlap Ceres Nanosciences, Inc 1.800.615.0418 ext. 202 rdunlap@ceresnano.com
March 19, 2020 - GMU virologist tells SelectScience how Nanotrap technology could help combat the coronavirus outbreak GMU virologist Dr. Kylene Kehn-Hall is working on a new way to help tackle the spread of coronavirus by employing a revolutionary technology called Nanotrap® particles. In a fascinating interview with independent science publisher SelectScience, Dr. Kehn-Hall outlines the unique advantages of using Nanotrap particles and how they could help limit the COVID-19 pandemic. She explains how Nanotrap particles effectively capture many different types of viruses, enabling scientists to stabilize and concentrate ultralow levels of those viruses, and how her team is working with SARS-CoV-2, which is the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, in GMU's biocontainment lab. Dr. Kehn-Hall tells SelectScience Associate Editor Carrie Haslam: “What we’re currently noticing in the field is that PCR assays had a significant number of false negatives. This is a situation where Nanotrap particles can really make a difference since they help combat these false negatives by capturing viruses that are present in low concentrations, which ultimately enhances diagnostics.” She highlights how this technology could be used to pave the way to new and more accurate detection, enabling patients with coronavirus to immediately take the necessary quarantine precautions to help reduce the spread of the disease. The team at GMU, which has previously used the technology to explore Zika virus, dengue virus and chikungunya virus detection, as well as common strains of influenza, RSV and coronavirus, is currently seeking funding to try to accelerate its work with SARS-CoV-2. About Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. Ceres Nanosciences is a privately held company, located in Prince William County, Virginia, focused on incorporating its novel Nanotrap® particle technology into a range of diagnostic and research products and workflows. The Nanotrap® particle technology can improve diagnostic testing by capturing, concentrating, and preserving low abundance analytes from biological samples. The Nanotrap® particle technology was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more, including how Ceres is partnering with leading life science, bio-pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies at www.ceresnano.com. Press Contact: Ross M. Dunlap Ceres Nanosciences, Inc 1.800.615.0418 ext. 202 rdunlap@ceresnano.com
November 7, 2019 - Ceres Nanosciences Launches Nanotrap® Virus Capture Kit Baltimore, MD — November 7, 2019 — Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. (Ceres) announced today the commercial release of the Nanotrap Virus Capture Kit. The Nanotrap Virus Capture Kit concentrates whole virus particles from complex biological matrices, resulting in high quality input material for a range of downstream analytical methods, including multiplex nucleic acid assays, protein assays, and infectivity assays. “Many of the samples in the lab have very low concentrations of viruses and we know that every scientist worries about missing out on that next important result,” said Robbie Barbero, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. “By enabling the use of larger sample volumes without disrupting the downstream workflow, the Nanotrap Virus Capture Kit helps scientists find those low abundance viruses.” Ceres has been working with leading infectious disease labs for several years to optimize this technology for virus applications, which has led to several important publications in the field. “We recognize that many research and clinical scientists want to be able to use the Nanotrap technology for their own virus applications,” said Ben Lepene, Chief Technology Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. “With our new configurations of magnetically functionalized and lyophilized Nanotrap Virus Particles, we now have a product that easily integrates with established downstream workflows.” Ceres is launching the Nanotrap Virus Capture Kit at the Association of Molecular Pathology 2019 Annual Meeting & Expo in Baltimore, MD with data demonstrating increased nucleic acid yield and compatibility with multiple commercial nucleic acid kits for influenza virus samples, as well as an application note demonstrating the use of the Nanotrap Virus Particles to improve detection of Zika virus in urine samples. Ceres and its collaborators have also demonstrated how the Nanotrap technology can be used to improve non-molecular assays including protein assays and infectivity assays. “We’ve already demonstrated that we can improve detection of respiratory viruses like influenza and RSV, as well as emerging viruses like Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika,” said Ross Dunlap, Chief Executive Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. “This is a very versatile product, and I’m eager to learn from our customers what new applications are enabled by it.” About Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. Ceres Nanosciences is a privately held company, located in Prince William County, Virginia, focused on incorporating its novel Nanotrap® particle technology into a range of diagnostic and research products and workflows. The Nanotrap® particle technology can improve diagnostic testing by capturing, concentrating, and preserving low abundance analytes from biological samples. The Nanotrap® particle technology was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more, including how Ceres is partnering with leading life science, bio-pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies at www.ceresnano.com. Press Contact: Ross M. Dunlap Ceres Nanosciences, Inc 1.800.615.0418 ext. 202 rdunlap@ceresnano.com
October 21, 2019 - Ceres Nanosciences receives NIH HEAL Initiative funding to advance fentanyl detection methods
January 31, 2020 - Ceres Nanosciences Receives $225,000 NIH SBIR Phase I Grant to Improve Serum Quality for Cell and Tissue Engineering MANASSAS, Va. — January 31, 2020 — Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. (Ceres) today announced it has been awarded a $225,000 Phase I SBIR grant from the NIH to apply the Nanotrap® technology for improved quality testing and for the decontamination of animal serum used in cell and tissue culture applications. According to a 2019 Genetic and Engineering News report, the cell and tissue engineering market generated an estimated $9 billion in product sales in 2017.[1] Because animal serum is a source of many of the required nutrients and growth factors for cell and tissue manufacturing, it is a key supplement added to most cell and tissue culture manufacturing processes. “Unfortunately, the serum that is used for cell and tissue culture can harbor any number of contaminants, such as viruses, bacteria, and endotoxins, which must be removed before it can be used,” said Ben Lepene, Chief Technology Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. “When we realized that the current procedures for sterilizing serum are time-intensive, costly, and often do not effectively remove all the contaminants, we decided to apply our powerful Nanotrap® particle technology to develop a simpler, cheaper, and better approach.” The funding provided by this grant will support the growth of the Nanotrap® particle product line, which already includes applications for the capture and concentration of viruses, proteins, and extracellular vesicles, with additional applications underway for the capture and concentration of drugs-of-abuse, bacteria, and cell-free DNA. “We’re very excited to have this support from the NIH to build on our successful work with the Nanotrap® technology to develop a high-throughput and cost-effective workflow for serum processing,” said Robbie Barbero, Chief Business Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. [1] https://www.genengnews.com/insights/tissue-engineering-market-in-the-u-s/ About Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. Ceres Nanosciences is a privately held company, located in Prince William County, Virginia, focused on incorporating its novel Nanotrap® particle technology into a range of diagnostic and research products and workflows. The Nanotrap® particle technology can improve diagnostic testing by capturing, concentrating, and preserving low abundance analytes from biological samples. The Nanotrap® particle technology was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more, including how Ceres is partnering with leading life science, bio-pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies at www.ceresnano.com. Press Contact: Ross M. Dunlap Ceres Nanosciences, Inc 1.800.615.0418 ext. 202 rdunlap@ceresnano.com
June 4, 2019 - Ceres Nanosciences, University of Virginia, and George Mason University receive $600K award from the Virginia Catalyst to develop a Nanotrap® liquid biopsy collection device MANASSAS, Va. — June 4, 2019 — Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. (Ceres), University of Virginia (UVA), and George Mason University (Mason) today announced the receipt of a $600,000 award from the Virginia Catalyst for the development of a Nanotrap® liquid biopsy collection device. This award will be matched by $1.2 million in product development funding by Ceres Nanosciences. Cancer is the second leading cause of death world-wide and the global cancer burden is expected to grow to 23.6 million new cancer cases by 2030. Tissue biopsies are the current gold standard for detecting and obtaining information about cancer. By collecting cells from tumors, doctors can determine if cancer is present and can provide information on the type of cancer, the patient prognosis, and treatment options. But tissue biopsies require surgery, making them risky, costly, and painful. This means that repeat tissue biopsies on patients is a difficult and impractical method for monitoring tumors as they develop and change over time. Recent advances, however, have led to the development of a “liquid biopsy” which enables analysis of tumor material—like circulating tumor DNA or proteins — directly from bodily fluids like blood or urine. Unfortunately, the amount of circulating tumor DNA or other tumor material in fluids like blood is frequently below the limits of detection of current molecular assays. About Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. Ceres Nanosciences is a privately held company, located in Prince William County, Virginia, focused on incorporating its novel Nanotrap® particle technology into a range of diagnostic and research products and workflows. The Nanotrap® particle technology can improve diagnostic testing by capturing, concentrating, and preserving low abundance analytes from biological samples. The Nanotrap® particle technology was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more, including how Ceres is partnering with leading life science, bio-pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies at www.ceresnano.com. Press Contact: Ross M. Dunlap Ceres Nanosciences, Inc 1.800.615.0418 ext. 202 rdunlap@ceresnano.com About George Mason University George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 37,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. Mason’s Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine (CAPMM) creates new technologies and makes basic science discoveries in the field of disease pathogenesis, then applies these discoveries and technologies to create and implement strategies for disease prevention, early diagnosis and individualized therapy. Learn more at www.gmu.edu or www.capmm@gmu.edu">www.capmm@gmu.edu. Press Contact: Tracy Mason George Mason University, College of Science 703-993-8723 tmason11@gmu.edu About University of Virginia Health System UVA Health System is an academic health system that includes a 612-bed hospital, the UVA School of Medicine, a level I trauma center, nationally recognized cancer and heart centers and primary and specialty clinics throughout Central Virginia. UVA is recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report, Best Doctors in America and America's Top Doctors. Press Contact: Joshua Barney University of Virginia Health System 434-906-8864 JDB9A@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu “The liquid biopsy tests currently in clinical use are revolutionizing cancer diagnostics,” said Eli Williams, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Associate Director of Genomics at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. “But the tumor DNA circulating around in the blood is a tiny, often undetectable fraction of the DNA in a patient’s sample. We need new technologies that can improve the collection of tumor DNA in blood.” “Ceres has demonstrated the clinical utility of the Nanotrap® technology in multiple infectious diseases,” said Ross Dunlap, CEO of Ceres Nanosciences. “Which is why we are very excited to partner with UVA and Mason to develop a Nanotrap® liquid biopsy collection device that will isolate, concentrate, and preserve tumor DNA from biological samples for improved cancer diagnosis.” “The Virginia Catalyst program is a fantastic and unique resource available to Virginia biosciences companies and researchers,” said Emanuel “Chip” Petricoin, University Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine at George Mason University, and a co-inventor of the background Nanotrap® technology. “We are extremely honored to be chosen as awardees for this high-impact product development effort.” ***
July 12, 2018 - Ceres Nanosciences’ Point-of-Care Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test System Granted Breakthrough Device Designation by U.S. Food and Drug Administration Manassas, VA – July 12, 2018 – Ceres Nanosciences (Ceres) announced today that is has received Breakthrough Device designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its new point-of-care Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test System. Under the Breakthrough Device program, formerly the Expedited Access Pathways program, the FDA works with a test developer to reduce the time and cost from development to approval. The Ceres’ Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test System is a powerful diagnostic test that is intended to be available in point-of-care settings, like a physician’s office or a walk-in clinic. Requiring only a patient’s urine sample, it will deliver results to the physician and patient at the earliest stages of infection, when treatment is most successful. “We’re truly grateful to receive the FDA’s Breakthrough Device designation for the Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test System,” said Ross Dunlap, Chief Executive Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. “This will accelerate our delivery to patients of a much needed test for Lyme disease, a devastating and increasingly common infectious disease that can cause irreparable harm if not detected and treated early on.” To achieve Breakthrough Device designation, a device must demonstrate compelling potential to provide more effective diagnosis for life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases. In addition, the device must meet at least one of the following criteria: represent breakthrough technologies; no approved or cleared alternatives exist; offer clinically meaningful advantages over existing approved or cleared alternatives; or the availability of which is in the best interest of patients. # # # About Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. Ceres Nanosciences is a privately held company, located in Prince William County, Virginia, focused on incorporating its novel Nanotrap® particle technology into a range of diagnostic and research products and workflows. The Nanotrap® particle technology can improve diagnostic testing by capturing, concentrating, and preserving low abundance analytes from biological samples. The Nanotrap® particle technology was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more, including how Ceres is partnering with leading life science, bio-pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies at www.ceresnano.com. Press Contact: Ross M. Dunlap Ceres Nanosciences, Inc 1.800.615.0418 ext. 202 rdunlap@ceresnano.com
May 31, 2018 - Ceres Nanosciences reaches product development milestone for point-of-care Lyme disease test and closes on an additional $5.5M of Series A funding MANASSAS, VA – May 31, 2018 – Ceres Nanosciences (Ceres) is announcing today that it has reached a key product development milestone for its Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test System. The Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test System will proceed into manufacturing and analytical performance testing this year and is on track for clinical study and FDA submission in 2019. “The Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test System presents a unique and powerful approach to dealing with Lyme disease. It will address the critical need for an accurate, direct test for early detection of a devastating disease and it will be available right in the physician’s office,” said Robbie Barbero, Ph.D., Chief Business Officer of Ceres Nanosciences. “Patients and physicians are eager for a better test, and this new test is going to make a big impact.” In 2017, Ceres opened a Series A round with a $3 million dollar investment from GreyBird Ventures (GreyBird) and reaching this product development milestone unlocks an additional investment from GreyBird. Ceres also is announcing new investments from the Bay Area Lyme Foundation, Pactolus Ventures, and the University of Virginia LVG Seed Fund, bringing the Series A funding total to $8.5 million. Ceres will use these funds to further development of the Nanotrap® Lyme Antigen Test System and to pursue new applications for the Nanotrap® technology. “Over the past year, our team has sought out investors who can accelerate our growth with their business expertise and strategic advice,” noted Ceres’ CEO, Ross Dunlap. “These new investors have decades of experience in the life science industry and are closely aligned with Ceres’ mission of delivering a powerful technology to the market to benefit patients globally. We are absolutely thrilled to have them join our team.” # # # About Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. Ceres Nanosciences is a privately held company, located in Prince William County, Virginia, focused on incorporating its novel Nanotrap® particle technology into a range of diagnostic and research products and workflows. The Nanotrap® particle technology can improve diagnostic testing by capturing, concentrating, and preserving low abundance analytes from biological samples. The Nanotrap® particle technology was developed with support from the National Institutes of Health, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Schmidt Futures, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Learn more, including how Ceres is partnering with leading life science, bio-pharmaceutical, and diagnostic companies at www.ceresnano.com. Press Contact: Ross M. Dunlap Ceres Nanosciences, Inc 1.800.615.0418 ext. 202 rdunlap@ceresnano.com
December 12, 2017 - Ceres announces major expansion with new Nanotrap® particle manufacturing site in Northern Virginia Prince William County, VA – December 12, 2017 – Ceres Nanosciences (Ceres) is pleased to announce its recent expansion in Prince William County, Virginia. Following a successful fundraising round in 2017, Ceres has rapidly expanded both its staff and its facilities to accommodate the growing demand for the novel Nanotrap® particle platform across the life sciences industry. The Nanotrap® particle provides enhanced sample processing capabilities to new and existing diagnostic tests for some of the most challenging diseases and conditions, such as Lyme disease, respiratory diseases, emerging infectious diseases and cancer detection, as well as for improved health and wellness monitoring. As part of this expansion, Ceres is graduating from the Prince William Science Accelerator and moving into 9,100 square feet of renovated commercial wet lab and office space at 9460 Innovation Drive, Manassas, Virginia. This space is being configured to meet the requirements for commercial-scale production of Nanotrap® particles within a quality-controlled manufacturing facility. Additionally, Ceres is outfitting a portion of the space to house one or more life-science industry collaborators with the goal of attracting more emerging biotechnology companies into the growing life science community at Innovation Park in Prince William County. “This marks a major milestone for Ceres,” noted Ceres’ CEO, Ross Dunlap. “With over 20 peer-reviewed publications and 14 issued patents we have been very successful in validating our technology’s performance through extensive research and development work at the Prince William Science Accelerator. Now we’re moving into a commercial-scale production facility that will allow us to be a solutions supplier to global diagnostic companies and major clinical reference labs.” Ceres’ new lab space is strategically located in the heart of Innovation Park, in Prince William County, directly adjacent to George Mason University’s (Mason) Science and Technology Campus and many other biotechnology companies and collaborators. “I am extremely pleased that the public private partnership with Ceres Nanosciences has provided such promising results so quickly. These breakthroughs are critical to the health and wellbeing of many, but also showcase Innovation Park as a leader in life science research,” said Supervisor Jeannine Lawson. Ceres applied for and was a recipient of a $50,000 Economic Development Opportunity Fund (EDOF) grant to assist in the expansion of commercial wet lab space in Prince William County. “This is a great story of an entrepreneurial team working persistently to build world class technology and facilities in Prince William County,” said Chairman Corey Stewart.
September 28, 2017 - Ceres part of team receiving $4.25MM from the DOD to develop a universal surveillance platform for infectious disease outbreaks
February 22, 2017 - Ceres receives $750K award from DARPA to adapt Nanotrap® platform to detect Zika and other febrile illnesses
February 2, 2017 - Ceres announces $9MM Series A investment round with initial $3MM investment from GreyBird Ventures Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. today announced the completion of a $3MM Million Series A financing as part of a larger, $9MM Series A round. GreyBird Ventures, an early stage venture fund, with offices in Boston, is leading the round. GreyBird is committing up to $5.5MM over the next year, and is supporting Ceres in completing the round with additional investment from strategic industry partners. The Nanotrap technology was invented at George Mason University and developed under funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for biomarker discovery applications. With support from the NIH, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, Ceres is focused on incorporating this technology into a range of innovative diagnostic products. Ceres’ lead product is a first-of-its-kind urine-based Lyme Antigen test that will provide the most sensitive detection of Lyme disease. “This marks a very big milestone for Ceres, and the timing could not be better, as there is a growing demand from patients and physicians, alike, for better ways to conduct non-invasive and highly accurate testing,” said Ceres CEO Ross Dunlap. “Our Nanotrap® technology platform will enable a convenient way of detecting Lyme disease, routinely and effectively, using a patient’s urine sample and a simple point-of-care test device. This will set the stage for delivering many new high-accuracy and patient-friendly tests based on this platform.” Emanuel “Chip” Petricoin, PhD, one of the co-inventors of the Nanotrap® and a co-founder of Ceres, explained, “One of the biggest limitations in clinical diagnostics today is that most of the biomarkers that could transform healthcare exist in concentrations too low to be detected by current testing methods. Ceres stands poised to change the medical landscape by providing a transformative technology that can power clinical diagnostics to a level not seen before.” Tom Miller, a co-founder of GreyBird Ventures, who has joined Ceres’ board, said, “Ceres has solved a fundamental problem in precision medicine, concentrating the most interesting biomarkers of early stage disease that have a low natural abundance. The Lyme test is just the first example. We are very pleased to be involved with Ceres not only because of its financial promise but primarily due to our expectation of the very large number of patients whose health will benefit.”
July 6, 2016 - Ceres receives $980K award from DARPA/US Department of Defense to adapt Nanotrap® to capture immune markers from non-invasive samples Ceres Nanosciences to collaborate with Tufts University and George Mason University to apply Nanotrap sample processing technology to capture panel of immune system markers for detection on the Quanterix Simoa platform Ceres Nanosciences, Inc. (Ceres) today announced the commencement of a development program, funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DAPRA) of the US Department of Defense, to use Ceres’ Nanotrap® particle technology to assess methods of detecting panels of immune function markers in non-invasive sample types. During the 18 month performance of this program, Ceres will work in close collaboration with the Walt Laboratory at Tufts University, led by David R. Walt, Ph.D., university professor and professor of chemistry, to adapt the Nanotrap sample processing technology to assays developed for the Quanterix Simoa analyzer platform. Central to this program is the comparative analysis of immune marker detection across different biofluid sample types, including venous blood, urine, saliva, and capillary blood. Matched samples from healthy volunteers will be collected under an approved clinical study conducted at George Mason University over the course of 12 months. “We are excited to apply the Nanotrap platform’s universal sample preservation and enrichment features to the industry leading performance of the Quanterix Simoa Analyzer,” said Ben Lepene, Chief Technology Officer and Director of R&D for Ceres. “The ability to use non-invasive sample types, like urine or saliva, to routinely detect the fluctuations of immune status biomarkers opens up new opportunities for critical health and wellness monitoring applications.”
June 29, 2015 - Ceres receives $746K from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to use the Nanotrap® to develop a highly sensitive, rapid test for Tuberculosis in urine
March 11, 2015 - Ceres partners with Johns Hopkins to evaluate Nanotrap® saliva test for Malaria
December 2, 2014 - Ceres receives $430K in funding for Ebola test development program from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Will use Nanotrap® to screen for Ebola Virus in saliva at earliest stages of infection
July 10, 2014 - TGen and Ceres Nanosciences announce collaboration to develop high-throughput Nanotrap® enrichment methods for Mass Spectrometry
July 10, 2013 - Ceres Nanosciences awarded Phase II funding to develop Nanotrap® enhanced detection platform for Rift Valley Fever Virus Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is a highly pathogenic arthropod-borne virus that has a detrimental effect on both livestock and human populations. While there are several diagnostic methodologies available for RVFV detection, many are not sensitive enough to diagnose early infections. Furthermore, detection may be hindered by high abundant proteins such as albumin. Previous findings have shown that Nanotrap particles can be used to significantly enhance detection of various small analytes of low abundance. We have expanded upon this repertoire to show that this simple and efficient sample preparation technology can drastically improve the detection of the RVFV nucleoprotein (NP), the most abundant and widely used viral protein for RVFV diagnostics.
May 30, 2013 - Ceres Nanosciences awarded funding from Virginia Commercialization program to further development of Nanotrap® Universal Sample Collection Toolset
September 9, 2012 - Ceres Nanosciences awarded DARPA Phase II SBIR to develop Nanotrap® Universal Sample Collection Toolset
May 23, 2011 - Ceres Nanosciences announces issuance of two Nanotrap® patents
February 22, 2011 - Ceres Nanosciences awarded 250K to develop Nanotrap® based universal sample preparation tool for Rift Valley Fever Virus
April 13, 2010 - Ceres Nanosciences completes USADA funded clinical study to measure HGH in urine and establish initial human baseline levels
April 22, 2009 - Ceres Nanosciences and SAIC-Frederick Collaborate On Cancer Steroid Hormone Studies using Nanotrap® platform
March 1, 2009 - Ceres Nanosciences and USADA Join To Advance Research Aimed at Developing an HGH Urine-Based Test for Benefit of Clean Sport
July 21, 2008 - Ceres Nanosciences to Develop Nanotechnology Products for Health Care, Industry and Government Applications
Archived News Publications and Announcements
December 07, 2020 - Ceres Nanosciences Hydrogel Technology Shows Promise for Capturing Circulating Tumor DNA
October 21, 2020 - How Nanotrap particles could help COVID-19 monitoring and outbreak containment SelectScience
September 2, 2020 - NIH continues to boost national COVID-19 testing capacity
July 23, 2020 - Nanotrap particles offer a simple and rapid way to concentrate extracellular vesicles and exosomes
July 07, 2020 - Ceres Nanosciences Positions Nanotrap Technology for SARS-CoV-2 Testing
March 31, 2020 - This Manassas firm wants to improve COVID-19 testing. Here’s what it’ll take Washington Business Journal
March 18, 2020 - How Philanthropists are Tackling COVID-19 Barrons
March 18, 2020 - How the Nanotrap technology could solve a piece of the coronavirus puzzle SelectScience
February 25, 2020 - Advances in Molecular Diagnostics Technologies BioCompare
February 19, 2020 - Virginia Catalyst Strives to Advance Life Sciences in the State BioSpace
December 31, 2019 - Ceres Nanosciences Launches Nanotrap Virus Capture Kit
November 07, 2019 - Ceres Nanosciences Nanotrap Virus Capture Kit Genome Web
October 11, 2019 - Advances in Infectious Disease Research, Diagnosis, and Treatment BioCompare
June 17, 2019 - More than just Lyme Disease? Ceres Nanosciences pivots its sales strategy Washington Business Journal
August 7, 2018 - Hope for Lyme disease victims: Researchers race to develop new tests — and a vaccine CNBC
August 1, 2018 - Comstock: Putting a Bullseye on Lyme Disease Loudoun Now
July 20, 2018 - Manassas firm gets step closer to new urine test for Lyme disease The Washington Business Journal https://www.potomaclocal.com/2018/08/20/ceres-nanotrap-lyme-antigen-test-system-fda-breakthrough-device-designation-an-important-step-for-treatment/
May 25, 2018 - Episode 43: If You Build It…We Will Grow The Project Podcast: Inside Corporate Location Decisions
March 12, 2018 - Potential New Clinical Laboratory Urine Test for TB Could Speed Up Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease That Kills 1.7 Million People Each Year Dark Daily
January 1, 2018 - Fast, Cheap Testing for Tuberculosis? Soon It May Be Possible New York Times
September 28, 2017 - DoD funds research to monitor infectious disease STAT News
February 7, 2017 - A technology backed by Bill Gates may revolutionize diagnostics for Lyme disease CNBC
October 7, 2016 - Ceres CEO, Ross Dunlap on the Science Behind Ceres Nanosciences (VIDEO) ACG National Capital - Annual Growth Conference
September 22, 2016 - Ceres receives award for being one of the Washington area's most innovative companies Washington Business Journal
June 1, 2016 - Early-Detection Urine Test Is Effective for Lyme Disease Labmedica
February 12, 2016 - Researchers discover early Lyme Disease detection WJLA ABC7 News Report
November 24, 2015 - George Mason University spinoff plans to disrupt the diagnostics market Washington Business Journal
November 20, 2015 - Ceres Wins $500K From VBHRC to Further Develop Lyme Dx; Begins Offering Test Nationwide GenomeWeb
May 12, 2015 - New Lyme disease test in clinical phase at Northern Virginia lab Loudoun Times Mirror
March 11, 2015 - Johns Hopkins Researchers to Evaluate Malaria Saliva Test Global Biodefense