Abstract
Cancer is most effectively treated when it is detected at an early stage. Unfortunately, many people do not have their cancer detected early. Reasons for this include technology limitations, reduced screening program participation, and gaps in access to screening. Blood tests are a type of technology with the potential to address cancer screening gaps. Traditional blood tests have not achieved the performance needed to detect early-stage cancer. Many blood test technologies are in various stages of research and development including measurement of circulating tumor DNA and circulating tumor cells. This presentation will provide an overview of the use of blood tests for early cancer detection with a focus on the gaps and opportunities in breast screening and the new technology we have developed to address the challenges in this area.
Bio
Dr. Katrina Rinker, PhD, PEng
Dr Kristina (Tina) Rinker, PhD, PEng is a Professor and Associate Head-Research in the newly created department of Biomedical Engineering at the Schulich School of Engineering, having joined the Faculty in 2005 in the Department of Chemical Engineering. She has a joint appointment in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology in the Cumming School of Medicine, is a member of the Charbonneau Cancer Institute, co-founder of the not-for-profit Biohubx and co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer for Syantra Inc, which spun-off from her research lab in 2016. Her research over the past 20 years has focused on the role of fluid forces in human health and disease with applications in diagnostics and therapeutics. This research has resulted in discovery of a new way to detect cancer signals in the blood (patent pending), with an initial test in breast screening. Syantra has received laboratory accreditations in Canada and US, as well as CE mark approval for the test. The US Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research program has recently awarded funding to support an expansion of clinical validation studies to 2000 participants in the US and UK.
Venue
7pm, November 13th, 2024.
Vibe at Indian Accent, 288 St Moritz Dr. SW, Calgary