Game-changing breast cancer diagnosis: AI-driven, low-cost, non-invasive structural biomarker test for faster, accurate results and better treatments access

Breast cancer represents 12% of all new cancer cases globally, making it the most common alongside lung cancer, and accounts for 6.9% of all cancer deaths. In the UK, ~55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer annually, with ~11,500 people dying from the disease: equivalent to 1 diagnosis every 10 minutes and 31 deaths every day. Despite significant advances, UK breast cancer survival is lower than in other developed countries. In addition, the NHS is facing significant challenges in meeting its cancer targets, with many patients waiting well beyond the recommended 2-week window for urgent referrals and the 62-day target for beginning treatment. These delays, particularly for non-urgent cases, can impact survival and patient outcomes as cancers are caught at later stages.? In this 15-month project, UK-SME EosDx is collaborating with Ulster University to develop and optimise a unique device called NISTA, which uses X-ray diffraction imaging, to revolutionise breast cancer screening. Specifically, the team will validate the use of skin to detect breast cancer non-invasively (without medical procedures), removing the need for mammograms and reducing radiation exposure, as well as biopsies and genetic testing: essentially combining breast cancer detection in a single test.? EosDx will lead the project, bringing deep commercial, project management, and technical knowledge, including world-leading experts in bio-crystallography and tissue imaging, whilst Ulster University possesses state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and significant expertise in breast cancer research. Additionally, the consortium has previously collaborated on prostate and pancreatic cancer diagnostic. Currently, breast cancer screening is offered every 3 years to women aged 50-71 and high-risk patients (e.g. those with family history). However, this misses younger women who account for 23% of cases and for whom breast cancer is the leading cause of death. This highly-innovative project aims to significantly improve breast cancer screening as it allows early diagnosis before symptoms become apparent, for a low cost, with high precision, and with reduced radiation exposure. As such, NISTA will dramatically improve patient survival, irrespective of age, and drive NHS cost savings.? EosDx's vision to transform cancer diagnosis and treatment directly aligns with the NHS' long-term cancer plan to improve national screening programmes, giving people faster access to diagnostic tests, investing in cutting-edge technologies, and ensuring more patients benefit from precise, highly-focused treatments.?Project outcomes will support EosDx towards revenue generation and position the UK as a European leader in innovative cancer diagnostics.