Project Boyle
During the early planning phase of Project Icarus, it was evident that there was a distinctly separate product base needed, which was not inherently aligned with the product catalog being developed, but is akin in that they were consumables and critical to a medical laboratory's day-to-day operations. This required a separate, but juxtaposed strategy that would address issues that directly impacted the molecular testing operations of the medical diagnostic laboratory division, and other companies in the same service offering sphere. Project Boyle was crafted to investigate and devise a strategy that addresses these needs through a dedicated research, development, and production team.
To begin devising a strategy for Project Boyle the team further examined the products used in molecular testing, and identified those items crucial in the testing process. From the initial extraction to the panel setup through the testing and resulting, the entire process was studied, and it was determined that the required products fall into 3 basic categories: assays, controls, and reagents. This strategy will be the foundation for a Microbiology, Immunology, Genetic, Bio-Molecular, and Chemistry Research and Development (MIGeMC R&D) group that will focus on developing products in the key categories identified.
Assays are used in medical diagnostic testing to determine the presence and amount of a targeted substance. In molecular testing, assays are used as targets to confirm if a biological sample contains elements of a specific pathogen. When detected in a sample, these results tell the laboratory technicians the level and activity of the pathogen and allow a provider to determine an accurate plan of care for their patient. While there are several producers of assays, a large portion of them are all manufactured overseas, and Project Boyle will see the creation of a program to begin developing and producing these assays locally. Aside from molecular targets, assays for blood chemistry, hematology, toxicology, and microbiology will also be part of the project to develop a dependable, local source of universal products compatible with all certified testing platforms available to the diagnostic laboratory market.
Every testing method within the diagnostic laboratory requires various control mediums to ensure the accuracy of tests performed. Blood, Toxicology, Molecular, Microbiology, and others, all require certified solutions that can be counted upon to validate every test. Part of the Project Boyle strategy includes the creation of a Bio-Microbial Repository for medical diagnostic and research purposes. To achieve success AMCAR Scientific plans to partner with universities, hospitals, providers, and other medical research companies across the world to cultivate a diverse catalog of controls and verification panels for genetic, nucleic, and serologic testing methodologies.
The first two categories in this strategy, assays and controls, are only a part of the equation for accurate and reliable diagnostic testing. Just as important are the various chemical reagents required by every test across all methodologies, and these products are part of the third key category. To address the need for a dependable supply of reliable reagents, Project Boyle calls for the development of a reagent product catalog. These products will range from simple products like DNA/RNA Free Water to advanced complex chemical compounds, all of which are used in the day-to-day testing services of medical diagnostic laboratories. Creating a dependable, local supply of these products is one more way AMCAR Scientific is working to create a medical supply chain that is not reliant on overseas production and sees the manufacture of critical healthcare consumables and supplies returned to local regions.
AMCAR Scientific targeted specific regions when searching for the optimal location where Project Boyle would gain the most advantages in access to operational elements that will help drive and grow the offerings within the project. Initially, three areas were proposed for this project due to their proximity to collegiate and private research institutes: Dallas, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; and Tulsa, Oklahoma. Through a series of reviews Phoenix, Arizona has been chosen as the primary option for AMCAR Scientific's MIGeMC Research and Development operations with Dallas, Texas as a secondary option.
As the first step towards fulfilling the strategy behind Project Boyle, a request for proposal has been sent to the group managing the property that has been identified in the Phoenix, Arizona area, and an announcement is expected in the early part of the 2nd quarter of 2024. Additionally, the company is working with the State of Arizona and the City of Phoenix to identify any potential partnerships, incentives, or other opportunities that may exist to help in the success of the Project.
This article will be updated with additional information as it becomes available.