From lab to clinic: Leading the commercial translation of a first of its kind electric field therapy implant for brain cancer treatment

我是QV Bioelectronics的首席生物材料科学家，负责领导核心技术的开发。在获得应用药理学本科学位后，我完成了生物工程博士学位，专注于骨关节炎的生物材料制造和表征。利用我以前的专业知识，在我担任首席生物材料科学家的角色，我现在处于创新电极技术开发的最前沿，该技术旨在应对真实的全球医疗保健挑战。我领导了核心电极技术的复杂开发，我是发明者之一。这种电极技术是我们尖端电场治疗设备GRACE的一部分。QV Bioelectronics是一家位于曼彻斯特的医疗设备初创公司，致力于为脑肿瘤患者提供更长时间和更高质量的治疗。多形性胶质母细胞瘤是成人中最常见和最具侵袭性的原发性脑癌，它是任何类型癌症中最糟糕的结果之一。它非常难以治疗;尽管进行了包括手术切除、化疗和放疗在内的强化治疗，但患者在诊断后平均存活14个月。胶质母细胞瘤患者迫切需要更有效的治疗，QV Bioelectronics的目标是开发我们的设备，提供无痛、无副作用的治疗，同时提高预期寿命。GRACE将在肿瘤切除手术期间直接植入体腔内。从这里，它将持续向癌细胞提供电场治疗。众所周知，电场可以干扰癌细胞分裂，减缓肿瘤进展，最终增加预期寿命。人们希望GRACE将为胶质母细胞瘤的治疗提供一个范式转变。GRACE器械采用先进的材料，其技术旨在显著延长患者的预期寿命，而不会对患者的生活质量产生负面影响。GRACE仍处于早期开发阶段，该技术进入临床试验还需要几年时间。QV Bioelectronics拥有一支优秀的多学科团队，我们的愿景是将GRACE整合到NHS和国际上新诊断的胶质母细胞瘤患者的标准治疗护理中-对全球胶质母细胞瘤患者的结局产生真实的影响。

I am the Principal Biomaterials scientist at QV Bioelectronics, and I am responsible for leading the development of the core technology.Following my undergraduate degree in Applied Pharmacology, I completed my PhD in bioengineering which focused on biomaterial fabrication and characterisation for osteoarthritis. Utilising my previous expertise, in my role as Principal Biomaterial Scientist, I am now at the forefront of development of the innovative electrode technology which aims to tackle a real global healthcare challenge. I have led the complex development of the core electrode technology, for which I am one of the inventors. This electrode technology is part of our cutting-edge electric field therapy device called GRACE.QV Bioelectronics is a Manchester based medical device start-up which is determined to deliver a treatment which provides a longer and better-quality life for brain tumour patients. Glioblastoma Multiforme is the most common and aggressive form of primary brain cancer in adults, and it has amongst the worst outcomes of any type of cancer. It is very difficult to treat; and despite intensive treatment including surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients live 14 months on average post-diagnosis. Moreover, it has a 5-year survival rate of <5%, which is in contrast is 89% for breast cancer.Glioblastoma patients are in desperate need for more effective treatments, and at QV Bioelectronics our goal is to develop our device to provide pain-free, side-effect free treatment, while also increasing life expectancy. GRACE will be implanted during tumour resection surgery, directly into the cavity. From here, it will deliver electric field therapy continuously to the cancer cells. Electric fields are known to interfere with cancer cell division, slowing tumour progression and ultimately increasing life expectancy.It is hoped that GRACE will provide a paradigm shift in the treatment of glioblastoma. Utilising advanced materials, the technology underpinning the GRACE device is designed to significantly extend patient life-expectancy without negatively affecting patient quality of life. GRACE is still at an early stage of development, and it will be several years before the technology is ready to enter clinical trials. The electrode technology is currently undergoing optimisation and characterisation, with a focus on technical de-risking.QV Bioelectronics have an excellent multidisciplinary team in place and our vision is for GRACE to become integrated into the standard treatment of care for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients both in the NHS and internationally- making a real impact on glioblastoma patients outcomes worldwide.