Original: June 1, 2021 | Updated: March 3, 2026

Read time: 3 mins

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DNM kicking study goals - what’s new?

Firstly, we are very excited to announce that Diag-Nose has secured ethics approval from the Institutional Review Boards (IRB).

So, we got a green light, what’s different?

The ethics green light is not a small achievement.

Securing this approval means our NSCER study has undergone rigorous independent review by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) - an external body dedicated to safeguarding human rights, participant welfare, and the protection of vulnerable populations.

Simply put - every aspect of the protocol, from study design and consent processes to data handling and risk mitigation, was carefully scrutinised.

We are proud to have met that standard.

With IRB approval now in place, now we - alongside our partner SPA - can formally move forward with launching the study in Pennsylvania and begin working with human participants under a framework that prioritises safety, transparency, and ethical integrity at every step.

The next step in nasal sampling - NSCER

Nasal Sampling for Clinical Evaluation and Research, or NSCER, is a very exciting pilot study we are running in the US, specifically Pennsylvania.

We are aiming to evaluate the potential of nasal fluid biomarkers for respiratory health assessment and disease monitoring. The study aimed to establish baseline biomarker profiles in healthy individuals and compare them with profiles from participants with a history of nasal diseases, including chronic rhinosinusitis and other conditions providing valuable insights into disease mechanisms and diagnostic opportunities.

We’re setting out to unlock the potential of nasal fluid as a powerful tool for understanding respiratory health.

This study is designed to determine baseline biomarker profiles of individuals considered to be ‘healthy’. Although it may seem counterintuitive - once we explore how those patterns shift in people with a history of nasal conditions, including chronic rhinosinusitis and related diseases, we can gain an extremely valuable picture of how respiratory diseases develop, how the immune system responds, and where new diagnostic opportunities may lie.

How ethics approval is the key to our end goal

In case it isn’t clear, the end goal is to turn everyday biology into actionable insight.

Through working with our incredible participants, we will be able to move closer to smarter, earlier, and more precise respiratory care. Having the opportunity (thanks to IRB ethics approval) to work with both healthy individuals and the people most affected by respiratory conditions, we work towards improving millions of current and future patient outcomes.

Ethics approval is not just a formality.

It is the foundation that makes this work possible. It ensures that every sample collected, every data point analysed, and every conclusion drawn is grounded in respect, safety, and scientific integrity. It means our participants are protected, informed, and empowered partners in research - not subjects, but collaborators in progress, much like SPA.

With this approval, we can responsibly generate high-quality datasets that reflect real-world biology across different ages, backgrounds, and health states. We can study early signals of disease before symptoms escalate, map immune responses in real time, and better understand how respiratory conditions develop and evolve.

Importantly, ethics approval allows us to build trust - with participants, clinicians, regulators, and future partners. Trust is what enables long-term studies, longitudinal sampling, and the kind of rigorous validation required to translate discovery into clinical impact.

This is how we move from interesting science to meaningful change. From raw biology to validated biomarkers. From data to decisions.

Ethics approval is the starting point - but it is also the safeguard that ensures our path to innovation is responsible, credible, and built to last.

What’s next for Diag-Nose?

Whilst the study will take place in Pennsylvania, we will continue to work across the globe towards improving the matching of patients to personalised treatments.

Launching NSCER is just one foot in the right direction for the company, and we hope to place many more initiatives on this path.

By collaborating with international research partners, clinicians, and healthcare systems, we aim to translate local insights into global impact. Each study, each dataset, and each breakthrough builds toward a future where treatments are not one-size-fits-all, but precisely tailored to the biology of every individual, no matter where they live.

Our goal is to create a network of knowledge and innovation that crosses borders, accelerates discovery, and ensures that advances in respiratory care reach patients worldwide.

Keep an eye out for our latest breakthrough and behind-the scenes updates by following us on LinkedIn!

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