Dublin, December 2, 2010 - Crescent Diagnostics was last night awarded gold in the ‘Innovation, Research, Development and Commercialisation’ category at the fourth annual Medical Technology Industry Excellence Awards, jointly hosted by Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and the Irish Medical Devices Association (IMDA), a business sector within IBEC. The ceremony took place in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Galway.

Crescent Diagnostics won the award for developing BQT™, a ground breaking diagnostic test to provide an early assessment of the risk of future hip fracture in post-menopausal women using a small toenail clipping. Researchers at University of Limerick, led by Dr Mark Towler, co-founder of Crescent Diagnostics, discovered a relationship between human nail structure, osteoporosis and fracture risk, and were able to demonstrate that the nail is a very effective surrogate for the analysis of bone quality.

Commenting on the award, CEO, Crescent Diagnostics CEO Ernest Poku said: “It is a privilege to receive this award on behalf of my colleagues at Crescent Diagnostics. With a strong international team and a very well-executed study behind us, we have taken a major step forward in the clinical validation required to position BQT™ as an innovative and accurate predictive diagnostic test. Raising market awareness is our next step and this esteemed award is a major boost for our product at this critical juncture.”

Commending Crescent Diagnostics on winning the award, IMDA director Sharon Higgins said: “Despite the current economic climate, we are very much witnessing the fruits of Ireland’s strong and dynamic national innovation strategy. Crescent Diagnostics is making a major contribution towards the establishment of Ireland as an international innovation hub, and we are delighted to honour this pioneering medical devices company. Companies such as Crescent Diagnostics play a crucial role in ensuring that Ireland retains its position as a world leader in the medical technology sector.”