The Times Australia
News From Asia

.
Times Media

.

Freelancer wins US$6.7m task order with NASA and the National Institutes of Health in gene editing

Freelancer.com wins the biggest task order yet with US$6 million in prizes to deliver transformative somatic cell genome editing delivery technologies.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - News Direct - 29 September 2022 - Freelancer Limited (ASX: FLN, OTCQX: FLNCF), the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by number of users and jobs posted, today announced it has won a US$6.7 million task order for NASA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director (OD) Division of Program Coordination, Planning, and Strategic Initiatives (DPCPSI) Office of Strategic Coordination (OSC).

NIH seeks two, three-phased contests to encourage technology development in two areas of strategic significance as part of Phase II of the NIH Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) program:

  1. A highly efficient (e.g. 50%+ editing efficiency) non-viral delivery system capable of crossing the blood brain barrier to deliver genome editing machinery to a majority of target cell types in the central nervous system.

  2. A programmable (e.g. 3+ configurations) delivery system to deliver genome editing machinery that can target specific tissues or cell types.

Somatic cell genome editing holds great promise in treating various diseases. However, current techniques in genome editing approaches, such as those based on CRISPR-Cas9, pose many challenges that need to be overcome before they can be widely used in the clinic. For example, the delivery of genome editors to clinically relevant cells and tissues and achievement of editing efficiency that is adequate for addressing human diseases.

These contests will be administered under the America COMPETES Act and will be launched on Freelancer.com with a total prize purse of US$6,000,000 (GMV).

This is the biggest task order to date under NASA’s NOIS2 and to be selected is testimony to the company’s track record of delivery to date under the program. It is expected that FLN will generate approximately US$700,000 in net revenue contribution for this task order.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About the NIH SCGE Program

The NIH Common Fund's Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) program is working to improve the efficacy and specificity of gene editing approaches to help reduce the burden of common and rare diseases caused by genetic changes. SCGE is developing quality tools to perform and assess effective and safe genome editing in non-reproductive ("somatic") cells of the body. These research tools will be made widely available to the research community to reduce the time and cost required to develop new therapies.

About Freelancer

Twelve-time Webby award-winning Freelancer.com is the world’s largest freelancing and crowdsourcing marketplace by total number of users and projects posted. More than 60 million registered users have posted over 20 million projects and contests to date in over 2,000 areas as diverse as website development, logo design, marketing, copywriting, astrophysics, aerospace engineering and manufacturing. Freelancer owns Escrow.com, the leading provider of secure online payments and online transaction management for consumers and businesses on the Internet with over US$6 billion in transactions secured. Freelancer also owns Freightlancer & Loadshift, enterprise freight marketplaces with over 550 million kilometres of freight posted since inception. Freelancer Limited is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker ASX:FLN and is quoted on OTCQX Best Market under the ticker FLNCF.


The Times Features

New study suggests weight loss drugs like Ozempic could help with knee pain. Here’s why there may be a link

The drug semaglutide, commonly known by the brand names Ozempic or Wegovy, was originally developed[1] to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. How...

Maintaining Your Pool After a Marble Interior Upgrade

After upgrading your pool with a marble interior, it’s crucial to understand that maintenance is key to preserving its elegance and longevity. You’ll want to regularly skim for d...

Labor using explanatory document to hide true powers of Misinformation Bill

The opinions and commentary of individuals could be deemed misinformation under Labor’s proposed legislation changes, according to James McComish of Victorian Bar. Appearing in...

Hotel Indigo launches limited-edition candle collection inspired by local neighbourhoods across ANZ

Hotel Indigo, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' luxury and lifestyle portfolio, is releasing a limited-edition candle collection inspired by the unique neighbourhoods its hotel...

Kyndryl ANZ appoints new Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances

Former Head of Marketing to lead and grow Kyndryl’s local channel ecosystem and bolster technological capabilities Kyndryl has strengthened its local leadership team with the ...

Posh picnics the Sunshine Coast helicopter picnic tour

Oceanview Helicopters launches Picnic on a Peak celebrating Sunshine Coast local food and views Oceanview Helicopters has launched a new tour in preparation for the upcoming s...

Times Magazine

The Best Removalists and Storage Solutions for Every Budget

Removalists and storage solutions are professional services designed to help individuals and businesses with their moving and storage needs. Removalists offer a wide range of services, including packing, loading, transporting, and unloading the fur...

Finding the Perfect Place to Hang Your Graduation Certificates

Introduction Graduation certificates are more than just pieces of paper; they are symbols of dedication, hard work, and significant achievements. These certificates represent years of effort and serve as a testament to personal and professional gr...

Chemical Bunds and its needs

If you have a business that involves water and wastewater treatment, banding could be an essential element to prevent leaking store chemicals and protecting the environment. The guidance you would get on bunding chemical manufacturing or in petro...

Try these second most famous spirits

When it comes to renowned spirits from around the world, certain names immediately spring to mind. Tequila from Mexico, scotch from Scotland, sake from Japan and schnapps from Germany are among the most well-known.  However, beyond these interna...

Full capacity: 5 steps to avoid forklift damage

There is a very good reason why Australia maintains rigorous forklift safety standards. The truth is, not everyone can be trusted on this dangerous machinery, and the uninitiated are simply a risk to themselves, their colleagues and the machine. ...

9 Hidden iPhone Setting to Secure Your Digital Identity

The rise in phone snatching in London and around the world is a stark reminder that our digital lives are more vulnerable than ever. Most people know to have basic security measures in place such as  two-factor authentication (2FA), regularly upd...