Forsyth Institute and Sherlock Biosciences partner to advance research and technology of human biomarkers in the oral cavity

The Forsyth Institute has entered into a strategic collaboration with Sherlock Biosciences, an Engineering Biology company dedicated to making diagnostic testing better, faster and more affordable. The partnership is focused on research, development, and commercialization of products and services for detection of human biomarkers in the oral cavity and other oral health applications.

The oral cavity provides unique insights into a person’s overall health. For example, microbial communities in the mouth are linked to a variety of systemic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes. Saliva contains virtually all the same medical information as blood–including peptides, proteins, DNA and RNA–but is much easier to collect as a biological sample. The Forsyth Institute and Sherlock Biosciences see the oral cavity as a clinically valuable, yet largely unexplored frontier that has the potential to revolutionize human health.

“As the world’s leading research organization in oral health, Forsyth brings a wealth of expertise that can rapidly advance applications of Sherlock’s technology to improve both oral health, as well as diagnostic testing that relies on oral sampling,” said Rahul Dhanda, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, President and Director of Sherlock Biosciences.

“Forsyth’s leadership is built on its long and successful history of discovery in the oral health space, and we are thrilled to partner around our leading diagnostics solutions to enable the institute to deliver the next generation of oral health-focused technologies.”

Scientists at Forsyth have been exploring the oral cavity for decades. Since its founding in 1910, the institute has contributed some of the most fundamental advances in oral health. From the discovery of fluoride for tooth protection and the microbial pathogens that cause dental decay and gum disease, to creating the widely used Human Oral Microbiome Database and characterizing more than 700 microbial species that colonize the human oral cavity, Forsyth continues to shed new light on oral and overall health.

“The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body and in many ways holds the keys to better health outcomes,” says Dr. Wenyuan Shi, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer at Forsyth. “Forsyth’s expertise in this field, combined with Sherlock’s impressive technological capabilities and culture of creative ingenuity, will create a powerful force in oral health innovation.”

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The Forsyth Institute’s mission is to improve oral and overall health through a combination of innovative research and community outreach by accelerating the delivery of wellness solutions locally and globally. The Forsyth Institute is the only independent research institute in the United States focused on the connections between oral health and overall wellness. Forsyth is also an affiliate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, where many of our scientists hold joint appointments. For more than 111 years, Forsyth has been a leader in the fields of dental research and pediatric dental care. Today, we are grounded in a 3-pillared strategic plan focused on biological research, clinical service and public health outreach, and technological innovation. For more information visit forsyth.org. Forsyth is a global convener of biotechnology thought leadership and will host its inaugural oral health innovation conference, dentech2021, on September 23, 2021.

Sherlock Biosciences is dedicated to providing global access to the simplest and most accurate tests that empower individuals to control their own healthcare. Through its Engineering Biology platforms, the company is developing applications of SHERLOCK™, a CRISPR-based method for “smart amplicon detection,” and INSPECTR™, a synthetic biology-based molecular diagnostics platform that is instrument-free. SHERLOCK and INSPECTR can be used in virtually any setting without complex instrumentation, opening up a wide range of potential applications in areas including precision oncology, infection identification, food safety, at-home tests and disease detection in the field. In 2020, the company made history with the first FDA-authorized use of CRISPR technology. Sherlock also has a deep academic connection with the Broad Institute, further strengthening its scientific expertise. For more information visit Sherlock.bio.