Molecular Discovery Systems Limited (“MDSystems”), launched in 2006 and spun off from BPH in 2010, is an associate of BPH. MDSystems has been working with the Molecular Cancer Research Group at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research to validate HLS5 as a novel tumour suppressor gene, particularly for liver cancer. 

The Molecular Cancer Research Group has developed a pre-clinical model of liver cancer where the expression of HLS5 is ablated i.e. it mimics, in part, patients that have low HLS5 (TRIM35) and develop liver cancer. Research conducted at the Perkins Institute has shown that HLS5 has significant tumour suppressor properties. The Perkins findings are supported by the two independent peer reviewed scientific publications, identifying a role for HLS5 in cancer, demonstrating that the loss of HLS5 expression may be a critical event in the development and progression of liver cancer.