VB Spine, a private company specialising in spinal surgery, has just announced that the ScolimiR-3D blood test, developed by Professor Alain Moreau and his team at Sainte-Justine University Hospital and the University of Montreal, has been granted Breakthrough Device designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This is the first diagnostic test predicting the risk of scoliosis progression to receive this designation. Using a simple blood sample, ScolimiR-3D measures six circulating microRNAs to assess the risk of a young person with scoliosis developing a severe curvature. The aim is to move beyond the traditional ‘watch-and-wait’ approach, in order to identify at-risk patients earlier and better personalise their care.
The result of more than 20 years of research and perseverance, this breakthrough demonstrates how far we have come in better understanding idiopathic scoliosis and transforming scientific discoveries into tools that benefit young patients.
Since 2002, Professor Alain Moreau has been a recipient of the Yves Cotrel Foundation’s award for research into spinal disorders, and the Foundation regularly supports his research. We are particularly proud and delighted to see this research come to fruition today, bringing hope to young patients and their families.
And we look forward to welcoming Alain Moreau once again this year in Paris, at our Scientific Meetings, to share the latest developments in his work with us.
