Developing an Automated Methylated Gene Test to Detect Malignant Breast Cancer in Fine-Needle Aspirates for the Underdeveloped World
Abstract
Breast cancer is diagnosed in 1.7 million women annually and results in nearly 600,000 mortalities each year. In the developing world, the rate breast cancer mortality is much greater because of a lack of screening and basic medical care. This project’s overarching challenge is not stated in the guidelines, but is important to the breast cancer landscape and is justified based on the epidemic of breast cancer overtaking the underdeveloped world. In this proposal, the overarching challenge we will address is to provide accurate and rapid detection of breast cancer at low cost worldwide through innovative design and development. This project will perform research to develop a novel tool for quick and inexpensive detection of breast cancer. This assay can be implemented in areas of the world with poor access to a pathologist or a pathology laboratory and will hasten detection and thereby treatment for breast cancer, leading to millions of lives saved around the world. My goal as a postdoctoral fellow is to gain the skills needed to become an independent investigator in academia. My career development plan is designed to ensure that I will get a deep understanding of what is breast cancer and how it behaves, that I am aware of the current challenges in the field of cancer, that I will learn state-of-the-art technology related to my work, and that I will establish the network needed to become an independent investigator. I plan to gain additional knowledge and background by taking classes in subjects such as medical histology and grant writing, and having weekly meetings with a biostatistician, which will directly help me with this project and in the future. To ensure that I am up-to-date on the latest research, I will attend three weekly seminars; translational cancer research, breast and ovarian cancer and oncology bioinformatics. I will also attend and present my research at local conferences, such as the Annual Breast Cancer Research Retreat, and national and international conferences, such as the annual American Society of Clinical Oncology, AACR and Gordon Research conference. At these conferences, I will present my own work, learn about new ideas and form new collaborations, which will greatly increase my chances of having a successful postdoctoral training. For this project, Dr. Sukumar formed collaborations with and introduced me to pathologists, oncologists, statisticians, and experts from a biotech company needed to develop this new type of diagnostic breast cancer tool. With Dr. Sukumar’s guidance, I will continue to collaborate and present my findings to these medical professionals. I believe this type of collaboration is necessary to move research from the laboratory bench to a real-world clinical assay. To gain the technical expertise related to my project, I am being trained by Dr. Fackler, a senior research associate in Dr. Sukumar’s lab. Dr. Fackler has been researching breast cancer markers for over 15 years and is the inventor of a well-established and powerful PCR-based multiplexed, methylated gene assay called QM-MSP. She has also provided me hands-on training to use the automated machine. With Dr. Sukumar’s mentorship and weekly one-on-one meetings, I will obtain the leadership and organizational skills needed to become and independent researcher and continue the training of new and future scientists. In the process of performing work described in this proposal, I will have the chance to interact with and teach the technology I well have developed to centers in China and in Africa. This way, I will expand my collaborator base not only in the US, but also in many countries in the world. We are working with a team: Dr. Harvey, MD is the chief of Breast Radiology, and is training personnel in Africa to conduct breast screening using ultrasound. If a suspicious lesion is found, a fine needle aspiration will be done and the cells processed in the automated cartridge. Women with a posit
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1810482
Entities
People
- Bradley M. Downs
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University
- United States Army