UCalgary biomedical engineering project receives funding for joint breast cancer detection research

Cornell University and the University of Calgary received partnering awards from the U.S. Department of Defense for a total of more than C$3 million. The principal investigator, Dr. Massimo Cristofanilli, MD, from Cornell University, will lead the multinational project in partnership with Dr. Kristina Rinker, PhD, from the University of Calgary.

The award funds a three-year, 2,000 participant, clinical study to evaluate a blood test for breast cancer detection at six sites in the U.S. and United Kingdom. The test has been developed over the past decade in Rinker’s research lab resulting in the spinoff company, Syantra Inc. The Syantra DX Breast Cancer molecular lab test has received laboratory accreditation in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. 

“I am excited about this fantastic partnership and the opportunity to continue to investigate the blood test in new populations through this clinical study,” says Rinker. “I would like to thank the Department of Defense for this funding. It will enable us to continue to expand clinical data to include women in New York, Phoenix and Manchester, U.K.”

Expansion of clinical data will build understanding of how the test performs across women from diverse social and racial backgrounds who are undergoing breast cancer screening.

Clinical studies have been ongoing since 2018. The Syantra DX Breast Cancer test has shown the unique ability to detect early-stage breast cancer, including small tumours. Disease detection at earlier stages may increase survival rates. 

“Many women do not have their breast cancer detected at the earliest stage due to gaps in availability, access, and technology. Blood tests appear to offer a way to expand screening tools and increase detection,” says Rinker.

Rinker is a professor in UCalgary’s Schulich School of Engineering and Cumming School of Medicine and has an international reputation for clinical and research aspects of cancer biophysics, specifically for breast cancer. 

“The body of research that Dr. Rinker has achieved with identifying biomarkers for breast cancer is an outstanding accomplishment for our university,” says Dr. Andre Buret, associate vice-president (research). “This partnered clinical trial of a UCalgary innovation in the U.S. and U.K. is a fantastic example of how we are maximizing research impact at our institution.”