Hi Reddit, We are Sadeka, Hannah and Sandhya.

Our research is on developing technologies to detect cancer at its early stages. Early detection significantly increases survival rate in cancer patients. For example, for ovarian cancer patients, the 5-year survival rate is below 30% when diagnosed at stage 3 or higher (stages are levels of cancer advancements). If detected early at stage 1, this survival rate increases to >90%. However, early detection of ovarian cancer is challenging due to lack of unique symptoms, especially since we do not yet have a screening device.

Our research vision is to design a screening device for the early detection of ovarian cancer. We are developing microfluidics- based devices for screening. These tiny devices have a little inlet port into which we will be able to load patient blood samples. These samples will travel through the device and if there are any cancer cell secreted molecules or vesicles, these will be detected within the device. When captured, the device gives a signal and the patient will be advised to take more sensitive tests for further investigation.

Please ask us anything about using engineering approaches for detecting cancer.

Proof: Here's my proof!