Namida Lab Partners with The University of Texas Medical Branch for Clinical Research Study of Melody®
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (October 5, 2021) – The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) has partnered with Namida Lab to conduct a clinical research study surrounding a recently developed tear-based breast cancer screening test. The lab-developed screening test, Melody®, is based on protein biomarkers isolated from tears. The samples will be used in further development work by Namida Lab. The study will last approximately 12 weeks with a goal of enrolling women who have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer but have not yet begun treatment. The study is fully funded by Namida Lab, and patients will not incur any costs.
Dr. Suzanne Klimberg, serving principal investigator on the study for UTMB, says “We are excited to be a part of this life-altering project and are looking forward to future collaborations. Tears are powerful and can tell us many things. Utilizing tear proteins as a screening method provides a cleaner fluid than blood, allowing more precise detection of small disease markers at a much lower cost”. Namida Lab plans to position Melody® as an additional breast cancer screening option for women.
Melody® is not intended to replace mammogram screening. Because tear sample collection can be done either at home or during any standard office visit with a primary care provider, patients can be screened by personnel they already know and trust in a more accessible and affordable way. The goal is that the early iterations of Melody® will offer more information about a woman’s breast health to help increase participation in annual or bi-annual screenings.
The University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston, Texas) is an academic medical center where physicians share knowledge of the most advanced treatment options and leading-edge research to provide innovative care to patients to ensure they receive the right care for the best possible results.
About Melody®
Melody® is a lab-developed breast cancer screening test designed by women for women. As an innovative tear-based screening test, Melody® may lead to earlier cancer detection by increasing screening compliance, decreasing healthcare costs, and improving access to care. The test is a product of Namida Lab, Inc., headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Learn more at melody.care
About Namida Lab Inc.
Founded in 2019, Namida Lab Inc. is an Arkansas-based clinical stage biotech company specializing in biomarker-based testing, operating a high complexity Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) certified lab. Its Research & Development Lab works in tandem with the CLIA Lab to develop medical screening and diagnostic tools. Learn more at namidalab.com
