Aqsens Health and Research Teams from Nanjing and Shanghai Replicate Large-Scale Prostate Cancer Cohort Measurements in China
Aqsens Health’s team traveled to Shanghai in early July to conduct prostate cancer analyses in collaboration with research teams from Nanjing and Shanghai. The goal of the trip was to analyze a large, well-designed urine sample cohort using the latest phage-biosensors and protocols, replicating insights gained in Finland. The Aqsens team also trained the Chinese research teams to continue the work independently after their return. This collaboration combines Finnish biotech innovation with China’s research talent, advanced capabilities, and strong interest in urine-based analysis.
A well-organised multi-party collaboration
Aqsens’ team — Chief Science Officer Janne Kulpakko, Senior Application Scientist Elizabeth Cudjoe, Senior Project Manager Zhao Zhao, and CEO Timo Teimonen — spent two weeks in China and at the Shanghai Public Hospital campus. During their visit, they carried out extensive prostate cancer sample measurements using phage-biosensors developed and validated in Finland against a respective prostate cancer cohort. These biosensors were transported to China in advance on dry ice. Aqsens’ team worked closely together with research teams from Shanghai and Nanjing.
“The collaborative nature of the work was visible already in how all things were prepared for us,” explains CEO Timo Teimonen.
“First of all, the sample lab setup was built according to the given specifications, measurement devices were properly calibrated and all required sample pretreatments were done by the technicians and post doc students. The only remaining quality check was to ensure that the measurement devices were delivering exactly the same results as in our Turku laboratory – and they did,” Teimonen continues.
A hefty research task
Prior to the start of actual measurements, Aqsens team organised both theoretical and hands-on training so that the whole team was ready for the extensive measurement process.
“The measurement site was located at a research facility within the campus of the Institute of Infectious Diseases in Shanghai, where we also conducted other important measurements to support our future collaboration,” Teimonen recounts.
The teams from Nanjing, Shanghai and Turku joined forces and followed strict measurement protocols, quality controls and other review steps. After long days and weekends, the team delivered over 120,000 measurement points to be analysed in the coming months, both in Finland and in China.
Reaching a critical milestone in validating phage-biosensors for cancer detection
In 2025, Aqsens’ team has now conducted prostate cancer measurements using two sample sets with the same cohort definitions—one from Finland and a larger one from China, consisting of 737 urine samples. The samples represent three distinct groups: prostate cancer patients, patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and healthy controls. The Chinese cohort enables detailed comparison of Aqsens' biosensor performance across clinically relevant populations, which is a critical milestone in validating the technology for early-stage, non-invasive prostate cancer diagnostics.
“These measurements will demonstrate that genetic background, cultural diet or eating habits, and environmental factors do not affect the performance of the phage-biosensors. Furthermore, biosensor measurements will demonstrate their performance compared to those obtained in Finland for detecting prostate cancer,” Aqsens Health’s Chief Science Officer Janne Kulpakko summarizes.
This multi-party collaboration is an important step toward validating Aqsens’ biosensor method in diverse populations with the goal of enabling earlier, more accurate prostate cancer diagnostics and building the foundation for market entry. The next key steps will be prospective preclinical trials both in Finland and in China.
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