Latest News
Latest Press Mentions
Mentions of our research in the press and the media are an important way to build recognition and awareness for our work. Read on below to see a selection of the latest coverage we have received.
Pregnostica is a finalist in the Avonni Awards 2019
August 29, 2019
Pregnóstica, the UANDES spin-off that predicts risk diseases in pregnancy, is a finalist for the Avonni National Innovation Awards 2019, in the Health category.
Alejandra Chaparro and Sebastián Illanes, researchers from the Faculties of Dentistry and Medicine respectively, developed a technology that manages to detect, during the first trimester of pregnancy, these pathologies, thus allowing timely treatment before they develop. By identifying different molecules present in oral fluids of pregnant women, it is possible to determine whether or not the mother will develop some of these pathologies. In just 20 seconds an exam is performed that is oral, simple and painless.
Both researchers said they were happy with the recognition. “We are very happy with this award because this has been a team effort, which shows the maturity of the University in Innovation. This is a recognition of our line of research and the results obtained, which will allow in a longer time to impact on the development of perinatal diseases during pregnancy, detecting the risk for the development of pre-eclampsia and diabetes in a simple, friendly and minimally invaded way " they said.
For his part, Anil Sadarangani, UANDES Innovation Director, stated that "being a finalist for an award in this category is an endorsement of the work that the Management and the University have been doing for some time and shows that UANDES technologies are consolidating."
PREGNOSTICA PREDICTS RISK OF DISEASES IN PREGNANCY IN THE FIRST QUARTER
May 23, 2019
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth and affects up to 15% of pregnant women in our country. Faced with this reality, researchers from the Universidad de los Andes developed a technology that manages to detect, during the first trimester of pregnancy, these types of pathologies, thus allowing timely treatment before they develop.
By identifying different molecules present in oral fluids of pregnant women, it is possible to determine whether or not the mother will develop some of these pathologies. In just 20 seconds a simple and painless oral exam is performed. Currently, these types of diseases are detected during the third trimester of pregnancy, which results in the number of premature infants increasing year by year in the event that the mother develops pre-eclampsia. The objective of the research team is that Pregnostica can be applied in all health services in the country and that all pregnant women have access to this technology.
There is an epidemiological correlation between periodontal pathologies and pregnancy diseases; So the team evaluated whether there were placental markers in the gum fluid. Not only did they find them, but they were more concentrated in plasma, opening up endless possibilities for research and innovation. Given the above, a CORFO project and another FONDEF were awarded with which progress has been made with this line of research and working specifically on oral biomarkers that can be efficient as early predictors of these pathologies in a minimally invasive way.
The dentist, Alejandra Chaparro, explains that “it is very gratifying to see that this research has been strengthened over time, becoming a useful tool for the clinical diagnosis and prevention of pregnancy pathologies. We have managed to consolidate a multidisciplinary research team from national and international universities that includes basic and clinical science researchers ”. For his part, the gynecologist, Sebastián Illanes highlights that “this research has great significance for several reasons. It involves a relevant area of perinatology, it is essentially collaborative, it has a very novel approach from the point of view of innovation and it will have a great impact on the health of mothers and their children ”.
For Anil Sadarangani, Director of Innovation at the Universidad de los Andes, this project marks a milestone, since it becomes the fourth spin-off and the eighth technology that is transferred to society. "We work every day to connect the needs of society with the applied research carried out at the University, in order to make an impact through concrete solutions." Jorge Rodríguez, investor in this technology, said that “this has been a two-year job where the work standard has been very high, which has meant that investors are highly interested in this project. We are very hopeful to have the great successes that this technology promises ”.
Pregnostica: Diagnostic Solution for the Early Diagnosis of Pregnancy Pathologies
April 27, 2018
Medical device for the early diagnosis of pregnancy pathologies - Gestational diabetes or Preeclampsia, using oral biomarkers.
Background
Pathologies associated with pregnancy are a public health problem affecting between 8% to 15% of pregnancies, producing short and long-term complications in both the fetus and the mother. These are usually diagnosed at a later stage.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is currently diagnosed between the 24th and 28th week of gestation, when the damage due to the high concentration of glucose in the blood is already done. GDM increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as type II diabetes in the mother, or metabolic syndromes in the child.
Preeclampsia starts developing from the 20th week of pregnancy. This can cause serious complications: delaying of intrauterine growth and premature birth addition, it increases risk of premature detachment of the placenta, and cerebrovascular accidents, hemorrhages and kidney problems on the mother.
In 2014, there were 250,997 births in Chile, 6.7 million in the United States and 208 million worldwide. The current diagnostic market for both pathologies is US$185,91 million, however, these diagnoses are made on the third trimester of pregnancy.
An early diagnosis allows to prevent the development of the disease.
Technology Overview
PregnosticA is an easy diagnostic solution that allows doctors to identify, with more than 85% of accuracy, the patients risk of developing GDM and/or Preeclampsia in the first trimester of pregnancy (11-14 weeks). This technology helps to reduce the complications and sequela, both in the mother and child, by implementing preventive measures and monitoring.
The diagnosis is made by identifying and quantifying biomarkers present in oral fluids from pregnant women. This information, together with clinical variables, is analyzed by an algorithm that calculates the probability of developing these pathologies.