Renowned researcher Mikael Kubista embarks on new projects at Gothenburg University

Innovator, entrepreneur, researcher and business developer - Mikael Kubista is a man with many talents and many roles. After building up one of the leading analysis and diagnostics businesses in the Gothenburg region, Kubista is now looking to expand his horizons further. His vision was always and will always be to improve quality of life for as many people as possible.

There seems to be no stopping Mikael Kubista. His past endeavours include building up multinational enterprises focusing on PCR and DNA testing, analysing and diagnostics. With decades of experience in both research and hands-on operation, Kubista is now taking new ideas further in close collaboration with Gothenburg University and the Sahlgrenska University Hospital, hoping to yet again make a substantial and positive difference to people’s health.

“Ever since I first started my journey studying advanced molecular science, targeting human cells and their reactions under various types of changes and stress in particular, I have never been driven by – or limited to – financial goals”, says Kubista.

Being limited to chasing financial gain will never open up for creative growth. Academic research has to be based on curiosity, striving to find solutions rather than making money on new products. Innovations must be allowed to go through several stages of development, testing, verification and perhaps even back to stage one, start again. This approach has paved way for Kubista’s past success, and he is not planning on changing strategy.

Multiple biomarkers in only one screening

Strategic partnership has been established between Mikael Kubista and the Faculty of Laboratory Medicine at Gothenburg University. Kubista is working within the area of molecular biomarkers, focusing mainly solving the challenges with multiple biomarkers being processed at the same time. This is an area of expertise that Gothenburg University researchers are well-known for, and Kubista has a long history of being at the forefront of the this development.

“I am feeling optimistic about new projects in Gothenburg. When it comes to screening multiple biomarkers simultaneously, we already have a great advantage here at Gothenburg University. Here, we have access to research groups and experts in molecular biology that are renowned worldwide for their excellence. It feels great to be a part of all this and I look forward to expanding our common goals”, says Kubista.

Fluid biopsies being scanned and analysed with ultra-sensitive technology, detecting multiple values and/or irregularities on molecular level, are used in Kubista’s research. The goal is to use one platform for screening a large number of molecular variables at the same time. Kubista has created such platforms and assays before, and now he is taking it to the next level in a new innovation-driven project.

Detect even the smallest mutation

Kubista’s focus is to develop better screening and analysis of fluid biopsies from cancerous cells in patients. The biopsies contain molecular changes and characteristics differ greatly from the cells in the rest of the body. The screening is difficult to manage as it needs to be extremely precise and sensitive to contamination.

“I would like to prove that screening the sample only once can give a reliable result. I want to show that using my method, even one single mutation on molecular level can be detected. Conventional screening methods often miss small indications. What I am looking to do is to develop my research and my screening method further, to include more areas where one DNA-screening can be enough to detect several different mutations, in various types of diseases”, explains Kubista.

The fluid biopsy of cancerous cells is screened once, and the more information you can get from only one sample, the better. Kubista has always been keen to develop better methods in this area. In his current project, the method is used to screen patient samples over time. This gives better opportunity for evaluating therapies, and to identify future risks of reoccurrence.

“We are working on personalised diagnostics, making it possible to tailor each test and screening to each patient. This is revolutionary. The next step after personalised diagnostics is personalised medicine. The one cannot exist without the other. Our work is key to realising the dream of actually being able to offer personalised medicine using the patient’s own DNA to develop a remedy”, says Kubista.

What next?

Kubista has already founded globally known enterprises in diagnostics. He is currently working with several key projects, with both industry and academia. Some of the world's leading developers of DNA-screening have made success thanks to Kubista’s research and expertise. The collaboration continues, Kubista is likely to participate in the leading projects in the future as well.