Abcodia, the Cambridge UK biomarker validation company, has struck a collaboration with life sciences company VolitionRx to advance the development of biomarkers for the early detection of cancer.

The partnership will discover and develop nucleosome-based diagnostic tests for lung, colorectal and pancreatic cancer by using the latest ground breaking technology.

Abcodia, a spin-out from University College London (UCL), will work closely with Volition on the design of the programme and the identification of cohort samples from its large prospective serum biobank.

Volition Rx will use its expertise in developing blood-based diagnostic tests to produce the very latest and innovative nucleosome-based diagnostic tests for cancer.

Julie Barnes, chief executive for Abcodia, said: “We are delighted to be able to partner with a company as dynamic as Volition on this groundbreaking technology and are looking forward to advancing their early stage cancer biomarkers towards diagnostic products that will make a vital difference to people’s lives and well being.”

Cameron Reynolds, Chief Executive of VolitionRx, added: “The collaboration with Abcodia is a key partnership for us. Access to Abcodia's samples will potentially expedite the development of our blood-based diagnostic technology, Nucleosomics.

“We believe that data from validation of thousands of samples, across multiple cancer areas, will help us to reach our goal of applying for European CE Mark approval this year.”

• PHOTOGRAPH SHOWS: Julie Barnes