Oncotect

Oncotect is a start-up company founded by serial entrepreneur Chan Namgong. Founded in 2020 and located in Raleigh, NC. The company is focused on delivering a non-invasive affordable early cancer screening kit for canine owners. To accomplish this they developed a N.C.S test utilizing the nematode C. elegans which has been demonstrated to exhibit positive taxis to volatile organic compounds common in urine samples of canines with cancer. The test was shown to be 85% sensitive to the presence of cancer across a wide variety of different common canine cancers and 90% specific to identification meaning it has a low risk of over-identifying cancer risk. The kit which is manufactured in-house is then utilized to collect canine urine and is available to be ordered by pet owners and is also available in over 200 veterinary clinics. 

 

Task Overview 

• Maintain and culture C. elegans nematode stocks

• Run CTX plate N.C.S tests

• Grow E. coli OP50 and seed NGM plates 

• Process received urine samples: agitate, aliquot, label, and freeze

• Update lab inventory and order necessary supplies and reagents 

• Prepare necessary reagents for lab activities

• Maintain proper sterilization of workplace environment and equipment and prevent contamination events 

• Document completed tests and upload them for analysis 

• Find efficiencies and ways in N.C.S test preparation to increase weekly N.C.S test count 

 Internship Objectives 

• Learn how to culture and grow eukaryotic organisms (nematodes)

• Become proficient in process optimization and laboratory tasks

• Learn more about how a biotech startup is launched and what the characteristics are of a successful biotech startup

• Learn about the differences in operation between academic and industry labs 

• Continue to improve and practice aseptic techniques and relevant skills for work in the laboratory environment.