Science and technology
Thirty years of biomarker science, in one test
From a conserved tumour protein discovered in 1994 to an AI-modelled urine assay, here is how IMUCEL works.
Why access is the imperative
A sensitive test means nothing if people cannot take it
A laboratory assay helps no one if cost, needles, and clinic visits keep people away. IMUCEL was founded to close both gaps at once: the biology and the access.
The translational arc
From gel to mass spec to urine
-
1994 to 2017
Discovery and validation
A conserved tumour-associated cell-surface protein, first found in an ovarian cancer cell line, validated across 26 tumour types in an 800-patient blood study using 2D gel electrophoresis.
-
2017 to 2024
Mass spectrometry resolution
A seven-year collaboration with UK university researchers and a clinical cancer centre moved detection to LC-MS, resolving the conserved pan-cancer peptide at a 40 femtomole limit.
-
2024 to now
Urine point of care
AI modelling revealed that the protein accumulates in urine. A US patent application was filed in 2026, with a global pharmaceutical partner engaged to build the lateral flow system.
The shift to urine
Why urine, and why now
Blood proved the biology, but venous draws still need phlebotomists, clinics, and cold chain. We asked whether the same target could be read in urine instead.
Because the biomarker is an exosome-positive whole protein, the body packages it into vesicles and clears it through the kidneys. Urine acts as a concentrated reservoir where intact protein complexes build up over time. Our dissociation chemistry unbinds masking autoantibodies so the target is free to detect.
Built with a strategic partner
One platform, three formats
A dual-use lateral flow suite for self-testing at home and triage in clinic.
Visual OTC dipstick
A direct at-home test, with a target cost under $20 and a result in under 15 minutes.
Multiplexed clinical strip
A multi-biomarker panel that gives clinicians added rule-in nuance at the point of care.
Intelligent reader module
Pairs the strip with a Receptor Optical Module for personalised testing frequency.
The horizon
Where the platform goes next
Multiplexed target sequences
Advanced strips are being engineered to bind several conserved amino acid sequences at once, amplifying the signal and raising confidence even at ultra-low concentrations.
Precision subtyping and lobular breast cancer
We are researching subtype-specific sequences to detect invasive lobular carcinoma, an elusive subtype often missed by mammography, and to help separate indolent lesions from aggressive ones.
Programmed surveillance for high-risk carriers
Paired with the reader module, the platform can be set for monthly or quarterly self-testing for people carrying BRCA1, BRCA2, and over 120 known cancer-predisposing variants.
How IMUCEL fits into care
See how a frontline urine test reshapes triage, imaging, and population screening.