Novel portable technology for early-stage dermatological cancer diagnostics (DERMATech)

This project is of a highly interdisciplinary nature, at the interface of microengineering, biophysics and medicine, will focus on developing and engineering new methods for improved and accurate detection and assessment of skin cancers as well as understanding, monitoring and controlling the cellular and tissue responses to therapeutic treatments. Overall aim will be focused on development and clinical validation of advanced device for point-of-care diagnostics: 'Novel Portable Technology for Early-stage Dermatological Cancer Diagnostics (DERMATech)'.

Skin cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with high-complication rates. By engineering novel intelligent micronano-substrates combined with advanced spectroscopic techniques to non-invasively detect and quantify skin cancers at the point-of-care, this project will make important advancements in several fields, envisioned to lead to high-impact publications and patent protection.

Designed as a portable, cost-effective platform, such novel technology will allow clinicians to rapidly assess skin at the point-of-need and detect the growth at the in-situ stages before it has become a full-blown skin cancer penetrated below the surface.

The multidisciplinary nature of this project will enable developing strong collaborations and integrating scientific findings with related projects as well as building broad skills-set that will maximize the knowledge and chances in making an impact on the world's academic and industrial stages.

By diagnosing, monitoring and clinically evaluating patients and better understanding of underlying mechanisms of the diseased tissue and biofluids, the outcomes of this research will lay a platform towards revolutionizing the ways of improving the health and quality of life for millions of people worldwide.