A new research platform reveals clues about the causes of cancer

For biotech and healthcare companies to succeed, raising capital needs to be faster and more efficient. As part of its mission to raise funds for research and development, Dry Powder Bio plans to build a tokenized blockchain ecosystem that uses digital tokens as a means of equity fundraising for biotechnology-based research and development.

Assets can be transformed into digital tokens that are exchangeable, storable, and recorded in blockchains. Digital tokens make it easier for investors to trade shares between study or clinical trial stages. Early-stage investors can now invest more in areas of medicine that need more funding for research, such as cancer.

New Cancer Research

Even after several years of study, cancer remains to be one of the diseases that medical experts are still trying to find solutions to. Many treatments and technologies have been developed to manage cancer, but a safe and effective cure is still out of sight. However, a new study geared towards understanding cancer has unraveled a treasure trove of information that would help scientists and doctors learn more about its causes.

Cambridge University Hospitals and University of Cambridge researchers led by Professor Serena Nik-Zainal conducted the most extensive study of analyzing the complete genetic make-up of over 12,000 patients of the National Health Service who are suffering from cancer. The researchers found 58 new mutational signatures, suggesting that there is still room to uncover additional causes of cancer.

As a result of the enormous volume of data generated by sequencing the entire genome, the scientists noticed similarities in the patterns in the DNA of cancer - what can be referred to as 'mutational signatures' - that can reveal what caused cancer.

Whole-genome sequencing gives scientists a comprehensive overview of each component mutation which, collectively, contributed to each individual's cancer. A mutational signature is like a fingerprint at a crime scene - it helps identify the cancer culprits.

Mutational signatures can be clinically helpful in treating cancer - they may highlight abnormalities that can be targeted with a drug or indicate a weakness in particular cancer.

Research platforms like this need to continue and progress, but looking for funding and finding the right investors can be tricky since financial investors are less likely to invest in the biotechnology and clinical research sectors.

Relevance of Whole-genome Sequencing

Seven billion pieces of information are estimated to be in the human genome. Knowing and analyzing DNA is essential to making good health decisions and potentially helps in discovering information to cure cancer.

Due to whole-genome sequencing results, several forms of cancer have improved in terms of treatment and detection. Whole-genome sequencing of tumor cells could not only predict the prognosis of patients but also provide clues as to which treatment is the most effective.

Dry Powder Bio helps early-stage companies find exposure and capital through tokenization and is also working to accelerate the development of medicine by bringing funds to specialized areas of medicine such as whole-genome sequencing of tumor cells. DNA testing and analysis of more people worldwide will provide researchers with more information to map diseases and find better cures, especially for diseases as complicated as cancer.

Through the study of cancer genomes, researchers have discovered that abnormal genes drive many types of cancer. Cancer research platforms benefited from this information by understanding cancer and developing new methods for diagnosing and treating it.

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