$1.5 M helps nanotech researchers focus on cancer
August 15, 2003 - A team of western Canadian researchers is developing microchip-based devices for analyzing the genetics of cancer, with the goal of dramatically improving the quality and efficiency of cancer diagnoses and treatments. The researchers are already developing prototypes--tiny analytical devices that will enable inexpensive and comprehensive genetic tests for cancer.
The scientific director of the project, Dr. Linda Pilarski of the U of A Department of Oncology, says the devices will make medical testing more precise and faster.
"Automating technically complex tests using microfluidics and molecular dielectrophoresis will be cheaper to do, increase the availability of testing, allow clinicians to refine their treatment and detect cancer earlier."
In the longer term, it may be possible to develop preventive strategies, and the researchers received a huge boost toward that goal today with the announcement of $1.5 million in support over five years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Genetics.
Microfluidics platforms (MFPs) are electro-mechanical microsystems that incorporate biological and microelectronic components to assay biological processes. The microchip-based devices detect gene, chromosomal, and mitochondrial abnormalities. Co-researcher Dr. Chris Backhouse of the U of A Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering says the MFPs consist of a micropipe network that allows the electrical manipulation of biological cells or molecules. The new technology promises to eclipse more expensive and slower diagnostic techniques.
MFPs also use far less reagent, require little human intervention, and have the potential to provide comprehensive clinical information. For example, they can be used to measure molecular and genetic changes with novel diagnostic/monitoring tests. MFPs can also be used in the amplification of specific genetic regions involved in disease. This enables detection of individual genetic abnormalities, molecular separations, and sensitive molecular detection methods, and all of this can be rapidly performed on large numbers of individual cells, using minute amounts of tissue without the need for specialized operators. Real-time testing using MFPs will be more convenient for patients and less intrusive.
The researchers say the work will also have broader research implications: single cell testing and screening of genetic/molecular abnormalities from many patients will allow them to analyze population dynamics and genetic epidemiology of cancer patients.
The researchers also anticipate their work will have profound public policy implications. Co-researcher Dr. Michael Mehta, a University of Saskatchewan sociologist, will examine some of the social implications that the new technology will have for clinicians, patients, and public policy makers.
Along with Pilarski, Backhouse, and Mehta, the research team includes: Dr. Moira Glerum of the U of A Department of Medical Genetics, Dr. Andrew Belch of the U of A Department of Oncology, and Dr. Karan Kaler of the University of Calgary Faculty of Engineering.
Related links – internal
Dr. Linda Pilarski's U of A Web page: http://www.ualberta.ca/~oncology/faculty/pilarski/index.htm
Dr. Chris Backhouse's U of A Web page: http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/~chrisb/
The U of A Department of Medical Genetics website: http://www.uofa-medical-genetics.org/
The U of A Department of Oncology website: http://www.ualberta.ca/~oncology/
The U of A Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering website: http://nyquist.ee.ualberta.ca/
The U of A Nanotechnology website: http://www.engineering.ualberta.ca/nint/
Related links – external
Dr. Michael Mehta's University of Saskatchewan Web page: http://www.arts.usask.ca/policynut/
Dr. Karan Kaler's University of Calgary Web page: http://www.eng.ucalgary.ca/resrch_electrical/Elect_Kaler.htm
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research website: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Institute of Genetics website: http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/institutes/ig/index_e.shtml
The National Research Council of Canada's National Institute of Nanotechnology website: http://www.nint.ca/
