Q-CANCER: development of a sample to result device for low cost, rapid tumour profiling

该项目致力于开发一种完全集成的、低测试成本、样本到结果的医疗设备，使组织病理学家(或技术人员)能够在几分钟内从福尔马林固定的和/或新鲜的组织样本进行多重基因分型和肿瘤分期和概况分析，为组织病理学家的标准实践提供分子辅助。该设备将在引入样品后，只需按下一个按钮，即可实现样品准备和DNA测序的自动化。组织样本使用了许多新颖的、创新的、但经过验证的微流控和纳米技术，这些技术允许巨大的多路复用潜力。该设备将实现与既定临床实践相结合的高质量基因分型的快速周转。此外，快速分析和分期肿瘤或识别基因突变的能力将导致患者预后的改善，减少患者的焦虑，并在治疗计划中节省成本。

This project is concerned with the development of a fully integrated, low test cost, sample to result medical device that will enable a histopathologist (or a technician) to perform multiplex genotyping and tumour staging & profiling, within minutes, from formalin fixed &/or fresh tissue samples, providing a molecular adjunct to a histopathologist's standard practice. The device will automate sample prep & DNA sequencing at the press of a single button, following the introduction of a sample. The tissue sample is processed using a number of novel & innovative but proven microfluidic and nanotechnologies that allow for massive multiplexing potential. The device will enable fast turnaround of high quality genotyping that integrates with established clinical practice . Furthermore, the ability to rapidly profile & stage a tumour or identify genetic mutations will lead to improvements in patient outcomes, reduce patient anxiety & result in cost savings in treatment programmes.