The Stagljar lab has developed an innovative and cost-effective COVID-19 serological called SATiN (for Serological Assay based on split Tripart Nanoluciferase).
SATiN is an example of an innovative, Canadian-made COVID-19 serological test with the potential to make a significant contribution to the fight against COVID-19. It has excellent sensitivity, specificity, operability and quantifiability, as well as great scientific and commercial possibilities. The assay is performed directly in the liquid phase of patient sera, making it rapid and low-cost (approximately $2/ sample).
Stagljar is now working with U of T’s intellectual property office and Toronto Innovation Acceleration Partners to find industry partners that could help make the method widely available. He is also collaborating with Prabhat Jha, director of the Centre for Global Health Research at St. Michael’s Hospital and a professor at U of T’s Dalla Lana School of public Health, who is leading a long-term study to establish duration of immunity across 10,000 Canadians. In another project, Stagljar is working with Allison McGeer, senior clinician scientist at Sinai Health System and a professor at Dalla Lana and the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, to assess antibody levels in people after vaccination.