Linnes awarded Shah Family Global Innovation Lab Seed Grant to develop cervical cancer test
Team members include Emilie Newsham, a graduate student in biomedical engineering, and Sulma Mohammed, Co-PI and associate professor of cancer biology, Department of Comparative Pathobiology.
In partnership with AMPATH, the team is developing a highly sensitive rapid paper-based immunoassay for a key cervical cancer biomarker – Valosin Containing Protein (VCP).
The technology for such cervical cancer screening is only available through laboratory intensive cytology procedures (e.g. PAP smears) or poorly sensitive visual inspection techniques. This new paper-based assay will provide an affordable platform for cervical cancer screening and control programs in high-risk populations whose disease would have otherwise be missed.
“Shah Lab’s seed grant will support us in developing the assay platform and will also support our efforts in understanding the barriers to adoption of such technology in low-resource clinics,” said Linnes.
The Shah Family Global Innovation Lab supports a community of faculty, staff, students, and global partners to respond to bottleneck challenges in international development through engineering innovations and market-driven approaches.
Source: Shah Lab announces 2019 seed grant winners
Related: The Linnes Lab at Purdue University