VOCTECX
- 23. Juni
- 2 Min. Lesezeit
THE MISSION
The simplest way to understand our solution is by comparing it to detection dogs, which can be trained to identify certain conditions and trigger a specific human response, whether it’s locating explosives or drugs, finding truffles, tracking individuals, or even detecting cancer and other diseases.
At EPFL, we are developing a biosensor based on olfactive proteins that specifically interact with cancer biomarkers present in a patient’s volatomic profile. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are small molecules that vary depending on cancer type and stage, enabling early detection and timely intervention, ultimately helping to prevent advanced disease progression and reduce high therapeutic costs.
Our goal is to develop a point-of-care device containing tailored biorecognition elements for signature VOC biomarkers, which generate electrical signals upon detecting otherwise invisible cancer cells. We are currently in the proof-of-concept stage and are collaborating with CHUV Hospital and the OlfaCanis association in Lausanne, which trains dogs to detect breast cancer in patients from sweat samples.
In parallel, our team is developing a proprietary classification algorithm to analyze 800 breath samples, along with the sweat samples we are collecting from breast cancer patients.
We are grateful to the Talent Kick team! By combining workshops and guidance with plenty of fun, the team-forming process felt natural and allowed each of us to find our rhythm. By staying open-minded and seizing the opportunities that came our way, we believe we’ve built a strong base, and by working together, we’re confident we’ll achieve our goals.
“We’re very proud to have received the Team Kick Award! As a newly formed team, Talent Kick marks our first milestone in the world of incubators. And we appreciated that not everything was set in stone, the flexibility throughout the program was a real plus!
THE TEAM
Rita Sarkis (PhD), CEO | Alessandro Fulciniti (MSc), CTO | Fabio Depetris (MSc), COO | Pier Colombo Albino, AI Expert |
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
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GET INVOLVED
In our first proof-of-concept stage, we’re screening our biorecognition element against VOC biomarkers reported in the literature. To validate these biomarkers, we’re conducting our own analytical chemistry analysis on sweat samples from breast cancer and control patients, these samples will also be used to test our biosensor prototype.
As we require a defined number of samples for statistically significant results, we’re open to research collaborations involving breast cancer sample collection, as well as opportunities for donations or fundraising.
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