Development of NuQ nucleosome blood tests for the detection of colon cancer

Dr Jake Micallef speaks to Hannah L Wilson, Commissioning Editor: Dr Micallef has 20 years of experience in research and development and in the management of early-stage biotechnical companies, including the manufacture of biotechnology products and the establishment of manufacturing operations. Dr Micallef gained this experience while working for WHO over a 10-year period from 1985. While working for WHO, Dr Micallef developed new diagnostic products in the areas of reproductive health and cancer. In 1990 he commenced development of a new diagnostic technology platform for WHO that was launched in 1992 and supported 13 tests. Dr Micallef also initiated and implemented in-house manufacture (previously outsourced to Abbott Diagnostics Inc., Dartford, UK) and worldwide distribution of these products for WHO. In 1990, he started a 'not-for-profit' WHO company, Immunometrics Ltd (London, UK), which marketed and distributed those diagnostic products worldwide. In 1999 Dr Micallef studied for an MBA and went on to co-found Gene Expression Technologies Ltd (London, UK) in 2001 where he successfully lead the development of the chemistry of the GeneICE technology and implemented the manufacture of GeneICE molecules. He also played a major role in business development and procured a GeneICE contract with Bayer Pharmaceuticals (Leverkusen, Germany). From 2004 to 2007, he taught 'science and enterprise' to science research workers from four universities at CASS Business School (London, UK) before joining Cronos Therapeutics (London, UK) in 2004. In 2006 Cronos was listed in the UK on AIM, becoming ValiRx. Dr Micallef continued to work as Technical Officer for ValiRx, where he in-licensed the Hypergenomics and Nucleosomics technologies and co-founded ValiBio SA (Namur, Belgium), which is now Belgian Volition SA, a subsidiary of Singapore Volition. Dr Micallef was educated at King's College London (UK; BSc, Biology and Chemistry, 1977; PhD Physical Chemistry, 1981), St Thomas' Hospital Medical School, London (UK; MSc Chemical Pathology, 1985) and Imperial College Management School (UK; MBA, 2000).