Robert Rhinehart, EE 63, had retired after a career in investment when he met Russian scientist Svetlana Dambinova, who was looking to launch products out of her many inventions. Dambinova, the holder of 36 international patents, discovered that biomarkers, a peptide called NR2 and an antibody, are more prevalent in the blood when blood flow is restricted to the brain.
In Russia, Dambinova had developed a simple, quick blood test for the biomarkers. Through her company CIS Biotech, Dambinova developed test kits. Those needed to be tested for approval in the United States, and Rhinehart volunteered to be a test subject himself.
Rhinehart had had surgery for aortic stenosis more than a decade earlier and had begun feeling symptoms of heart trouble. Standard tests couldn’t pinpoint the problem, but Dambinova found an increase of a biomarker in his blood.
Rhinehart immediately scheduled an angiogram, and his doctor found that a major artery was 95 percent blocked. After a procedure to clear the blockage, Rhinehart was quickly back to full health. Without it, he almost certainly would have suffered a stroke within months.
“My life was saved,” he said. “I’ve become a medical missionary.”
Rhinehart joined Dambinova’s fledgling company, CIS Biotech, and the two have filed for FDA approval for a diagnostic version of the NR2 peptide test. They also are developing a predictive test. They have received CLIA certification allowing the tests to be done at authorized labs. Independent studies have proved the tests to be 98 percent active.
CIS Biotech recently signed a partnership to have the test available at the Piedmont Heart Institute at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta. Those interested in having the test done may contact CIS Biotech at (404) 499-0303 or the Piedmont Heart Institute at (404) 605-5222.
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