710758Novel technologies for profiling of colorectal cancer biomarkers at the point-of-care.ClosedGRD Proof of ConceptInnovate UKColorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth largest cause of cancer death worldwide, with 694,000 deaths per annum. In the UK it is the second leading cause, with 16,187 deaths in 2012. In current clinical practice, CRC patients are tested for mutations in certain cancer-related genes in order to assess their prognosis and determine eligibility for particular targeted therapies. Typically, tumour biopsy tissue is used for screening, which does not always reflect the mutational status of the disease during progression and can lead to incorrect treatment decisions. We aim to develop technologies for a novel single-use, handheld testing device to profile key mutations using a pin-prick of blood to sample DNA released from tumour cells. This approach aims to provide accurate real-time diagnostic information to clinicians. The low-cost and usability of our test will provide potential for its routine use in monitoring treatment response and early detection of recurrence to improve the chances of long-term survival for patients.