Duke-NUS and TCD partner to simplify T-cell analysis

The initiative aims to improve infectious disease management.

T Cell Diagnostics Pte. Ltd. (TCD) has licensed an intellectual property and its related know-how from Duke-NUS Medical School to develop point-of-care assays that could simplify the T-cell response analysis.

“Duke-NUS scientists are amongst the most entrepreneurial in Asia, and our culture of innovation is supportive of partnering with startups,” Christopher Laing, Vice-Dean for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Duke-NUS, said.

The company’s test kits, based on the licensed technology, quantify virus-specific T cells by stimulating biological samples with synthetic peptides and measuring the cytokines released in response.

TCD’s kits can be used on various clinical samples—including whole blood, nasal swabs, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids—and aim to support the diagnosis and monitoring of infections such as hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis D (HDV), influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and dengue.

By measuring the number and function of antigen-specific T cells, TCD provides critical insights that can guide diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development.