Biotome Secures $498K to Advance Preeclampsia Diagnostic
- lukemarshall93
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
Perth biotech awarded prestigious Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund Innovation Seed Fund grant to develop a first-trimester blood test that could prevent hundreds of preeclampsia cases annually in Western Australia and thousands worldwide.
The award was announced on the FHRI website. Read the announcement →
Addressing a Critical Gap in Maternal Health
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including preeclampsia, affect about 2.7% of Australian pregnancies, equating to roughly 800–900 women each year in Western Australia. Globally, preeclampsia complicates 2–8% of pregnancies—more than 8 million women annually—and contributes to over 70,000 maternal and 500,000 infant deaths each year.(AIHW 2023, WHO 2023)
preACT detects specific antibodies in maternal blood that correlate with later disease development, enabling first-trimester screening using standard prenatal samples.
“Early detection is the key to prevention,” said Dr Samuel Lundin, Biotome’s CEO and Founder. “Our aim is to make high-precision, affordable diagnostics available to every expectant mother—transforming how preeclampsia risk is identified and managed worldwide.”
From Laboratory to Manufacturing
The FHRI funding supports biomarker optimisation using peptide microarrays, manufacturing scale-up under quality-controlled protocols, and validation in independent patient cohorts, including the internationally recognised PROVE biobank (Stellenbosch University, South Africa).
The project builds on data from hundreds of clinical samples already analysed, advancing preACT from research prototype to manufacturing-ready diagnostic.
Economic and Clinical Impact
First-trimester screening coupled with preventive therapy can markedly reduce severe preeclampsia and preterm birth.
In Western Australia alone, preventing 50–100 severe cases annually could save the health system several million dollars through avoided emergency deliveries, neonatal intensive-care admissions, and long-term complications.
Applied globally, such an assay could prevent hundreds of thousands of cases of preeclampsia and related adverse outcomes. The dried blood spot (DBS)-compatible format allows integration with WA Country Health Service outreach programs and supports future adoption in low-resource settings worldwide.
Building on Strong Foundations
Biotome’s peptide-based diagnostics are protected by granted patents across more than 20 jurisdictions, with additional applications pending. Its use of synthetic peptides enables precise antibody targeting, low manufacturing cost, and durable intellectual-property protection.
Project Hummingbird showcases Western Australia’s growing leadership in medical-technology innovation—translating local research excellence into globally relevant solutions for women’s health. By advancing early prediction of preeclampsia, Biotome aims to reduce preventable harm, improve pregnancy outcomes, and strengthen Australia’s position in the next generation of serology-based diagnostics.
About Biotome
Biotome is a Perth-based precision-immunology company developing peptide-based diagnostics for infectious diseases and immune-mediated conditions. Its proprietary platform enables high-specificity tests suited to diverse healthcare settings—from metropolitan laboratories to remote point-of-care applications.
