An automatic cell incubator and analyser for liquid biopsies in cancer diagnosis and treatment

The overall objective of this Eurostars project is to develop our bench-top autonomous cell analyser, called GreinDCell, for clinical laboratories. The sub-objectives include the development of a miniaturised cell culture disc, metamaterial antenna array for continuous monitoring, and novel peptamers for mimetic 3D extracellular matrix (ECM). The main R&D challenges associated with this project are 1) Creation of a silicon disk with optimal structure for cell cultivation, 2) Development of peptides for optimal ECM, 3) efficient integration of a metamaterial array, 4) Developing a solution with low production cost. GreinDX (GDX, lead applicant and project coordinator) is a Norwegian SME striving to provide an affordable lab-on-the-table system enabling researchers and clinicians to better understand the role and function of circulating tumour cells, and fully exploit their role in cancer treatment. Symthera (SYM, project partner) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. SYM has developed proprietary drug discovery algorithms, which are essential to the 3D ECM to be developed. Also, Oslo University Hospital and SINTEF will act as partners in the project, supporting specifications and validation, and disc development, respectively. Following this project, GreinDCell will allow capturing, cultivation and studying of viable CTCs (and other cancer biomarkers) in bodily fluids. This will enable fast, cost-effective and accurate early cancer diagnosis, disease prognosis, treatment decision support and monitoring of treatment efficacy.