L2M – A biosensor for the detection serum breast cancer markers

This Mitacs Business Strategy Internship (BSI) Grant Application is focused on developing an analytical assay for detecting several breast cancer (BC) markers in serum. As an upgrade to the existing methods for quantifying BC serum markers, we aim to integrate several electrodes on the same sensor platform that will be bio-engineered to target one type of BC marker specifically. These markers will be stage-dependent (HER2 biomarker), together with diagnostic (healthy vs. BC), prognostic (early vs. advanced), and predictive markers (providing information regarding the treatment). Therefore, with the confirmation of BC, identifying the above-listed subcategories of BC would also represent an upgrade in breast cancer diagnostics and, thus, subsequent care.

A Mitacs BSI Market Assessment for proposed technology will be conducted considering the patient population who are at the highest risk of breast cancer. The accuracy of mammography is highly dependent on the density of breast tissue. While conventional mammography can be as accurate as 98% in a fatty breast, sensitivity can drop to as low as 30% in women with extremely dense breasts.
This Mitacs BSI project will develop a novel diagnostic tool that will improve the accuracy of cancer detection in the patient population with dense breast tissue. Estimated market size for novel breast cancer screening tests considers women within the age category of 50-74 eligible for mammography screening in the United States as of the year 2022 (49,567,600), percentage of women screened (75.9%), and 1.6% of women who receive a biopsy (601,949).

Faculty Supervisor:

Anna Ignaszak

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of New Brunswick

Program: