Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing
Overview
Our group discovered the presence of fetal DNA in maternal plasma and pioneered the diagnostics applications, named as Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT). We further aim to develop cost-effective methods for simultaneous detection of a wide range of genetic conditions; enhance methods of chromosomal aneuploidy screening; develop non-sequencing assays based on non-random fragmentation patterns of plasma DNA.
Problem addressed
NIPT is a non-invasive method of determing the risk that the fetus will be born with certain genetic abnormalities. This method does not pose any risk to the fetus.
The Centre for Novostics (Novostics), with the meaning of novel diagnostics, aims to push forward the frontier of molecular diagnostics. Novostics will focus on the development of cutting edge diagnostics based on cell-free nucleic acids in blood and other bodily fluids, particularly around prenatal diagnosis and cancer diagnostics. These research areas will accelerate the application of liquid biopsy and promote Hong Kong as a leading molecular diagnostic centre in the world.
Enquiry
