BY: SAMANTHA BARTLETT, DVM

MI:RNA Diagnostics, a startup from Edinburgh led by CEO Dr. Eve Hanks, BVM&S CertAVP (EM) PhD MRCVS, has developed technology for an early disease marker that can help dogs and cats with heart disease live longer. The tech firm, a spinout company for Scotland’s Rural College, developed the NEMO Cardiac Health Screening test that has 85% sensitivity and 83% accuracy in spotting common heart diseases such as myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in the very earlier stages before proBNP or Troponin. . 

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are single-stranded, non-coding RNA molecules that help regulate gene expression. The test analyzes microRNAs in a blood sample as biomarkers in disease progression. Combining the test with artificial intelligence (AI) improves early identification of conditions like MMVD so that care can be instituted more quickly. The diagnostics are also being tested for the detection of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats. 

The researchers foresee the technology being beneficial to primary care practices for diagnosing early heart disease more thoroughly and determining which cases to refer and which treatments to implement for each individual patient. The technology is also being explored for application in early detection of other diseases such as epilepsy, kidney disease, cancer and intestinal disease. 

For more information and to view a pre-print of the research paper, visit the company’s website at mirna-diagnostics.com.