Scope Biosciences, a diagnostic startup spun out from Wageningen University & Research, has secured €1M in funding from GenDx, a global leader in molecular diagnostic laboratory solutions. The investment will accelerate development of the company's proprietary ScopeDx CRISPR-diagnostic platform and support its transition from research to commercial applications.
The funding represents a strategic partnership between the two Dutch companies, with GenDx bringing specialized expertise in Next Generation Sequencing products for transplant diagnostics. According to Niek Savelkoul, CEO of Scope Biosciences, "Our proprietary ScopeDx CRISPR-diagnostic platform has shown its incredible potential in various applications in the last three years of its development. With this investment we can bring the first ScopeDx products to the market."
Revolutionary CRISPR-Cas Technology Foundation
Scope Biosciences builds on groundbreaking research from John van der Oost, professor of Microbiology at Wageningen University & Research, who is internationally recognized as one of the founders of the pioneering CRISPR-Cas technique, alongside assistant professor Raymond Staals. Van der Oost's research group made fundamental discoveries revealing how the CRISPR-Cas system contributes to bacterial anti-viral defense mechanisms, identifying various enzymes and molecular signaling pathways that enable this defense.
The company applies CRISPR-Cas technology's inherent specificity and ease of use to develop a molecular diagnostic platform that promises to revolutionize diagnostics. The simplicity of the assay is designed to bring highly accurate molecular diagnostics outside research laboratories to clinical bedside applications.
Strategic Partnership and Market Applications
The collaboration with GenDx extends beyond financial investment to include a co-development trajectory for ScopeDx applications in transplant diagnostics. Dr. Wietse Mulder, CEO of GenDx, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: "We are excited to collaborate with such a motivated and energetic team of Scope Biosciences that is supported by WUR, renowned scientists and seasoned businessmen. We truly believe that together with them, both Scope Biosciences and GenDx will be able to deliver meaningful products to the field of diagnostics based on CRISPR-Cas technology."
Scope Biosciences plans to utilize the funding to expand its research and development team and strengthen existing partnerships focused on developing rapid diagnostics for infectious diseases across healthcare, veterinary, and agri-food applications.
Company Background and Leadership
Founded in 2020 by Jurre Steens, Niek Savelkoul, Bart Scholten, and Stijn Prinsen, Scope Biosciences originated from close collaboration with the Laboratory of Microbiology at Wageningen University's department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences. The ScopeDx technology was co-developed with WUR and is exclusively licensed to Scope Biosciences.
The founding team receives support from experienced entrepreneurs Math Kohnen and Wil Hazenberg, along with StartLife. Van der Oost and Staals serve as co-founders and continue as scientific advisors to guide the company's development.
GenDx, the investment partner, specializes in developing, producing, and selling assays and analysis software for transplantation and companion diagnostics, making it a strategic fit for advancing CRISPR-based diagnostic applications in clinical settings.
