Background
Folate, an essential B-vitamin, is crucial for a variety of health-related functions. The recognition that too few women obtained sufficient folate levels from their diet and knowing that a folate deficiency put embryos at risk for serious birth defects led to mandatory fortification of certain foods to prevent deficiencies. Such preventive measures aim to reduce birth defects and other health issues that arise from folate deficiency. As the body processes synthetic folic acid differently than natural folate, monitoring its metabolism and identifying associated autoantibodies is increasingly important. Despite fortification efforts, certain populations exhibit folate-responsive pathologies, indicating a potential issue with unmetabolized folic acid or synthetic forms. No established methods in use by national testing laboratories exist for detecting antibodies to folic acid, posing challenges for understanding the etiology of related pathologies and evaluating the overall effectiveness and safety of current folic acid fortification strategies.
Technology description
This invention identifies antibodies to folic acid and detects them through clinical test kits. It aims to identify individuals at risk for folate-responsive disorders such as cerebral folate deficiency syndrome, cardiovascular disease, reproductive issues, and select neurological disorders. Additionally, it may support certain cancer therapies and intractable epilepsy patients, and enhance depression intervention therapeutics. This technology reveals a novel connection between folic acid antibodies and various pathologies, offering a unique approach to detecting and potentially addressing health issues linked to one carbon metabolism. With its clinical novelty and diagnostic potential, this technology could significantly advance health management, particularly in countries practicing mandatory folic acid fortification.
Benefits
• Enables early detection of folate-responsive health issues
• Supports personalized healthcare by identifying individuals with specific antibody profiles
• Improves understanding of the impact of folic acid fortification policies
• Can be instrumental in improving outcomes for patients with certain mood disorders, cancers and epilepsy
Commercial applications
• Diagnostic kits for detecting folate-related pathologies in clinical settings
• Screening tools for individuals at high risk of cerebral folate deficiency syndrome
• Assessments for cardiovascular health risks associated with folate metabolism
• Support for fertility treatments and spontaneous-abortion investigations
• Complementary therapy evaluations for select cancer treatments and intractable epilepsy
Opportunity
The University of Texas at Austin is seeking an industry licensing partner.
