OREANDA-NEWS. NetScientific plc (AIM: NSCI), the transatlantic biomedical and healthcare technology group, notes its Diagnostics portfolio company, ProAxsis, has announced the formation of a Scientific Advisory Board to support ProAxsis in the development of its ProteaseTag® activity-based immunoassays and point-of-care tests, including those designed for the detection and measurement of active Neutrophil Elastase.

Commenting on the news, NetScientific's Chief Executive Officer, Francois R. Martelet said: "ProAxsis' ProteaseTag® tests have the potential to greatly improve the routine monitoring of patients with serious chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis and COPD. In bringing together this hugely respected group of clinicians specialising in CF and respiratory diseases, ProAxsis' will ensure it has world class guidance as it continues to realise this potential."

The full text of the announcement issued by ProAxsis on 30 March 2016 can be found below: 

ProAxsis appoints world-renowned respiratory experts for new Scientific Advisory Board

Date: March 30, 2016 

ProAxsis today announced the establishment of a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), made up of world-renowned clinicians and researchers in the field of chronic respiratory disease. This newly created SAB will support ProAxsis in the development of its ProteaseTag® activity-based immunoassays and point-of-care tests, including those designed for the detection and measurement of active Neutrophil Elastase.

The founding ProAxsis SAB members are:

Stuart Elborn

Professor Elborn is Dean of the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences at Queen's University, Belfast.  He was one of the longest-serving Presidents of the European Cystic Fibrosis Society, holding the role between 2008 and 2015.  His primary research focus is on Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis, and in particular, increasing the understanding of the pathophysiology of infection and inflammation within these diseases, and the translation of new therapies in to clinical practice.

Scott Sagel

Dr Sagel is a pediatric pulmonologist who focuses on airway inflammation and lung disease in children with cystic fibrosis and primary ciliary dyskinesia.  He serves as the director of the University of Colorado CF Centre, and his key research interests include biomarkers of lung disease, including sputum and systemic markers of airway inflammation and injury.  Dr Sagel serves as co-chair of the CF Foundation Biomarker Consortium.

Mona Bafadhel

Dr Bafadhel is a Senior Clinical Researcher in the field of Airways Disease, particularly COPD.  She is a senior lecturer in Respiratory Medicine and an Honorary Consultant Chest Physician at the University of Oxford.  Her key research interests include the investigation of the mechanisms and therapeutic strategies aligned to the different inflammatory phenotypes of COPD, and in particular during exacerbations.  In addition, Dr Bafadhel has a special interest in near-patient point-of-care testing with the aim of providing improved stratified medicine and personalised medicine.

Patrick Flume

Patrick Flume is a Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Medical University of South Carolina.  He oversees a rapidly growing CF Center, including the largest adult CF program in South Carolina.  He has served on numerous CF Foundation committees including as founding co-chair of the Pulmonary Practice Guidelines Committee, and his active research interests include CF, bronchiectasis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria

James Chalmers

Dr Chalmers is a Wellcome Trust Postdoctoral Fellow, Senior Clinical Lecturer and Honorary Consultant Respiratory Physician at the University of Dundee. He is chair of the European Bronchiectasis Registry (EMBARC) and leads multicentre studies in COPD and pneumonia. He is associate editor of the European Respiratory Journal and a member of the editorial board of the Lancet Respiratory Medicine. His group works on the interaction between neutrophils and bacteria in the lung with the aim of developing novel therapies and diagnostics for acute and chronic respiratory infections

Marcus Mall

Marcus Mall is professor of Paediatrics and director of the Department of Translational Pulmonology at the Heidelberg University Medical School, and head of the Division of Paediatric Pulmonology at the University Hospital Heidelberg.  His research is focused on the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of CF and other airways diseases, and the development of novel diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies.  Professor Mall serves on a number of journal editorial boards, and is also a member of the Board of the European CF Society.

Penny Agent

Penny has worked at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust since 1996 and is currently the Director of Rehabilitation and Therapies. Her professional background as a physiotherapist saw much of her career working in Cystic Fibrosis, where the Brompton hosts one of the largest CF services in Europe. Penny was the chair of the UK Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in CF from 2009-12 and is an internationally accredited (IPG/CF) airway clearance instructor. She maintains her clinical and research interest in CF, whilst working in a strategic, operational and leadership role.

Professor Elborn said: "I am delighted to offer any support I can to the ongoing development of ProAxsis' exciting products in development, including the point-of-care device for detecting Neutrophil Elastase, a key biomarker of inflammation and infection in respiratory diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis".

Dr David Ribeiro, CEO of ProAxsis, said: "The Scientific Advisory Board will serve as a resource to ProAxsis in the ongoing development of our proprietary assays for the capture, detection and measurement of active protease biomarkers of disease.  We are thrilled that a group of such world-renowned respiratory experts as these have committed to be involved in our SAB at this crucial time in the company's development".

ProAxsis is part of the NetScientific group and is one of the group's core portfolio companies.  The company is also supported by QUBIS, the commercialisation arm of Queens University.