Collaborative Research Inc. of Waltham, Mass., has beenawarded a $500,000 award from the National Cancer Instituteto develop a DNA probe test for the prediction of thedebrisoquine metabolism phenotype. The grant began Sept. 1.

The company intends to develop a polymerase chain reaction-based test that would be able to diagnose the status and formof the gene in more than 98 percent of the population. Thecurrent test covers 95 percent.

The status of the gene can determine risk for developingcertain forms of lung and bladder cancers and to predict apatient's metabolic compatibility with more than 20 commonlyused drugs.

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