About Us

Our Story

About us

Inspired by the health and disease history of my family and the successful completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP), I was the first who has established the only self-funding research-based DNA laboratory company in Thailand since 2006, and among only a few in Southeast Asia. My DNA lab has been continuously running R&D since the start. My first commercial DNA lab “Heart Genetics Co., Ltd” was set up, focusing mostly on heart disease. The services were primarily based on 2 patents (*Patents No. 0701000430 and 0701000449, submitted in 2007), international/national publications, and the Thai people database from my own research (supported by MahidolUniversity grants and partially supplemented by Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University). The seed funding at the start of my lab company was given by the National Innovation Agency(NIA), Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand. [*These patents, currently expired, were owned by the funding agency, Mahidol University) My first achievement: our DNA service won the TopTen “National Innovation Award” (5th seed) in 2007. [NIA, Ministry of Science and Technology, announced on December 21st].

In parallel to heart disease, my lab has been running cancer research as well. We started from identifying KRAS gene in CA colon patients for targeted therapy using DNA from tumor tissue blocks. In 2008, our R&D on cancer could successfully replace tumor tissue blocks with non-invasive Plasma DNA (from blood samples,i.e., liquid biopsy). The first 2 gene markers of our successful experiments were KRAS and TP53 (p53). The first commercial service of these two markers began in January 2009 in a young colon cancer lady. Upon sensitivity modifications, early and recurrence cancer diagnoses, namely “Zero Plus^©” tests were launched in July 2009. The first apparently non-sick healthy case with KRAS mutation was found in September 2009. Re-analysis by the “Zero Plus^©” test, this KRAS mutation was found to disappear in March 2010, after supplements and lifestyle modifications.

My R&D of non-invasive Plasma DNA* (liquid biopsy) assays in more gene markers, for early and recurrence cancer diagnosis as well as targeted therapy in cancer patients, have been performed and subsequently fully serviced since then. The **COSMICdatabase (http://www.sanger.ac.uk/cosmic) was used for our interpretation in addition to the HGP database. (*both DNA and RNA; **Catalogue of Somatic Mutations Database) My non-invasive Plasma DNA assays can detect somatic mutations for early diagnosis and recurrence follow-up in cured patients, for prevention purposes. These assays are applied to cancer patients for targeted therapy.

My second achievement: my lab won votes from> 400 investors as “The Most Interesting Technology for Investment Award” on 22 September 2011, NSTDA Investors’ sDay, Ministry of Science and Technology, as the “Zero Plus^©” can totally replace the tumor tissue blocks with non-invasive “PlasmaDNA”.

Awarded via popular vote as “The InterestingTechnology for Investment Award” on 22 September2011, NSTDA Investors’ Day, Ministry of Science andTechnology.

In 2013, with continuous R&D, my lab could successfully see cancer-mutated DNA at the Femto level dilution. Therefore, Femto Lab and Femto Research Group Co., Ltd. have been established for cancer DNA services since then. Science serendipity has happened in my lab from time to time, i.e., during Plasma DNA analysis, I and my researcher,*Dr. Sittichai Boonrawd (Ph.D. in Biotechnology) found bacterial and fungal DNA integrations in some Plasma DNA samples. (*He, as an M.Sc. scientist, joined my lab in April 2010. His projects involvedLactobacillus spp., plant virus, and bacteria & viruses during B.Sc., M.Sc., and Ph.D. studies, respectively.)

Emerging evidence over the past decades has gradually and clearly revealed dysbiosis between the human body and micro-organisms, causing several non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancers. It has now been generally accepted that infections can lead to the development and progression of cancer and affect the host’s response to therapy. Approximately 20% of total cancers worldwide are caused by microbial infections. This infection approximation, my non-invasive Plasma DNA technology, the serendipity of bacterial and fungal DNA integrations inhuman genomes observed in my lab, and the success of the HumanMicrobiome Project (HMP) (2008-2012) led us to seriously develop“Plasma p53Microbiome©” in 2014. This R&D attempted to directly identify somatic mutations caused by microbial genome insertions/integrations into human genomes, using the tumor suppressor gene TP53(p53) as a sensor gene marker. Femto Lab^© has successfully launched the “Plasma p53Microbiome^©”, a signature service, since December 2016, and announced it as our “Innovation 2017”. For early diagnosis, “Plasma p53Microbiome^©” can identify cancer-related infections for targeted prevention. For cancer patients*, it can identify both cancer-related infections and those who resist standard medications. As an invited speaker & showcase of the “TourismAuthority of Thailand (TAT)” (2017-2019), I and Dr. Sittichai Boonrawdthus developed Dried Blood Spots(the DBS) method(during2018-2019) to collect and transfer whole blood samples from remote areas and countries. [*the service is named “Plasma p53Microbiome^©“.]

My third and fourth achievements: “Plasmap53Microbiome^©” was awarded for such a Precision Health and/or Precision Medicine as the “Service Innovation of the Year 2018” (https://healthcareasiamagazine.com/ healthcare/more-news/femto-research-group-co-ltd-thailand-bags-healthcare-asia-awards-2018-service-i) and for the DBS method as the “Service Innovation of the Year2019” (https://healthcareasiamagazine.com/ healthcare/more-news/femto-research-group-brings-home-service-innovation-year-award).

My Innovation 2020:During 2019 – early 2020, my R&Dhas successfully developed “Saliva p53Microbiome^© and *DSS”. The development of this technology stemmed from the “Plasmap53Microbiome^© and DBS” experience. The functions of Salivap53Microbiome^© and DSS are the same as Plasma p53Microbiome and DBS. It can identify infections in human genomes for early diagnosis for early infection. For cancer patients, it can identify infections inhuman cancer genomes and also look for those who resist standard cancer medications. It is absolutely noninvasive and sample collection and shipment from remote areas and countries to FemtoLab^© is very convenient. (*DSS: Dried Saliva Spots).

An important feature of my innovations should need to mention: Both “Plasma p53Microbiome^© &DBS” and “Saliva p53Microbiome^© & DSS” can identify the human genomes’ infections at the genus, species, and strains without need of cell cultures and/or any further characterization. Such specific identifications subsequently lead to relevant, and straight forward solutions, such as supplements, lifestyle, and environment modification.

My unique “Plasma p53Microbiome^© &DBS” and “Saliva p53Microbiome^© & DSS” are now globally available only at Femto Lab^©. The “Plasma DNA” is now available only at Femto Lab^© in Asia. At present, I and Dr. Sittichai Boonrawd are working on some R&Dprojects. Among these projects, we are working on semi-ready-to-use test kits to detect, in human genomes, the genetic materials of Helicobacter pylori bacteria and influenza viruses and Coronaviruses, in particular, the SARS-CoV-2 (formerly known as 2019-nCoV), currently causing the ongoing pandemic COVID-19. These services will be available soon.