Our Mission

At GlycoDiagnostics, we aim to detect people with potentially dangerous liver disease early on, before it is too late. Millions of people suffer from fatty liver disease, which can develop into a progressive inflammation and fibrosis, a silent condition that often goes undiagnosed until it’s too late. Current tests are invasive, unreliable, or hard to access. That’s why we’re developing a simple, non-invasive blood test based on a unique glycan biomarker discovered at Leiden University Medical Center. Our test is designed to catch liver fibrosis early, especially in high-risk groups like people with type 2 diabetes, so that healthcare providers can take action sooner to slow or stop disease progression. Early detection means better outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and a healthier future.

The team

Dr. Katarina Madunic is a pharmacist with a PhD from Leiden University Medical Center, specialized in glycobiology, analytical chemistry, and translational glycoscience. These experiences have shaped her commitment to bringing glycan-based innovations to patients. She has actively engaged with industry, co-authored grant proposals, and initiated collaborations that bridge academia and clinical applications. Katarina has hands-on experience in Phase 3 clinical trials, giving her a strong grasp of regulatory strategy and clinical translation. She plans to dedicate her career to applying her scientific expertise to create clinically validated, impactful solutions that address urgent medical needs. She is currently part of the unlock_ biotech startup incubation program and NWO Faculty of Impact to further develop her entrepreneurial skills.

Prof. Manfred Wuhrer is the head of the Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics at Leiden University Medical Center and is professor for Proteomics and Glycomics. He is trained as a biochemist and obtained his PhD in the field of mass spectrometry glycomics at Giessen University, Germany, in 1999. He pioneered high-throughput, high-sensitivity glycoanalytical methods, and applied these methods for studying the molecular signatures and mechanisms of a vast range of human diseases. He is co-inventor for the two patent (applications) that will be licensed from Leiden University Medical Center, and will lead the R&D activities. Manfred wants to achieve an impact on patient care by driving the clinical translation of the fibrosis biomarker.

Background

Over 30% of the global population is affected by fatty liver disease (MASLD). This silent fat accumulation can progress into inflammation (MASH) and lead to liver fibrosis, which develops without symptoms and, if undetected, can advance to cirrhosis, liver failure, or cancer. Early diagnosis is essential to prevent irreversible damage and identify target populations for trials and therapy. Building on a unique glycan biomarker discovered at Leiden University Medical Center, we are developing a simple, non-invasive blood test capable of detecting liver fibrosis at its earliest stage.

Product

Our solution is a non-invasive blood test that detects liver fibrosis at its earliest stage using a novel glycan biomarker- a sugar-based signature found in blood proteins. Our technology leverages a patented carbohydrate derivatization strategy to reveal previously inaccessible diagnostic information from standard glycomic profiling, enabling identification of a specific sugar based signature associated with first histological signs of fibrosis (F1stage). This innovative approach works on both plasma and dried blood spots, making it scalable, rapid, and ideal for broad clinical implementation. By enabling early intervention, our test has the potential to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and support more effective trial and therapy selection in a growing global health challenge.