10185128Development Of A Novel Blood Test For Early Detection Of Pancreatic CancerActiveCollaborative R&DInnovate UK\>460,000 people/year are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (PC) globally. Unfortunately, due to non-specific symptoms which often present late, and the current sub-optimal diagnostic tests for PC, it is often only diagnosed in the later stages, and usually when it has already spread to secondary locations. The survival statistics are alarming, \>75% of patients do not survive for more than 1yr. The current blood test for PC diagnosis is wholly inadequate, only raised in ~50% of early cases, also raised in a plethora of other benign conditions, or does not detect the cancer until late in disease progression. Furthermore, there is currently no screening tool for people at high risk of developing PC. GenoME Diagnostics employs innovative technology to develop diagnostic tests through identification of specific modifications of DNA, namely DNA methylation, (DNAme) biomarkers. We have developed a platform technology based on advanced PCR techniques that can be applied to a wide range of diseases. Our core technology offers significant advantages and is distinct from competitor methodologies. GenoME builds on its success with OvaME, a blood test for monitoring of ovarian cancer. We are now aiming to develop a simple blood test detecting DNAme present in the earliest stages of PC. We utilise multiple innovative methods to identify biomarkers optimised for early detection, and highly sensitive blood-based detection to increase accuracy of PC testing. The PanME test aims to improve survival and quality of life through aiding earlier and improved diagnosis, facilitating timely surgical intervention/treatments - providing transformative advance in PC management. Our PC test will initially aim to launch as a diagnostic tool for symptomatic individuals. The long-term ambition for GenoME is to market the test as the world's first PC screening tool which would require a much larger long-term clinical validation and definition of a pancreatic screening programme. The PC test is the second product for the company. Successful demonstration of applying our platform technology to a new disease area will enable us to raise the further funds required to expand our biomarker development for not just other cancer types, but also a range of various other diseases which have dire unmet early detection need. This project seeks to validate the initial data, deploying the GenoME design platform technology to expand the biomarker panel, and build on the successful product development pipeline, resulting in a multi-marker diagnostic for a disease in dire need for improved early detection.