Grant: Collaborative Health Research Projects (NSERC partnered)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) affects over a million people globally, resulting in ~600,000 deaths annually. Early detection of CRC can significantly reduce the mortality of CRC. When neoplastic lesions are found while they are locally contained, the 5-year survival rate is greater than 90%; when they spread to nearby lymph nodes or distant organs, the rate drops to 69% and 12%, respectively. The gold standard for CRC screening is colonoscopy; while this procedure is effective, it is expensive and invasive, and can cause complications. Less invasive or non-invasive methods are either prone to false-positives that require follow-up with colonoscopy or very expensive to be used as a screening tool. In this collaborative project, a team of academic researchers and clinicians will work together to develop a simple, litmus paper-like paper device for non-invasive detection of CRC. The test will be suited for routine CRC screening using stool samples. If successful, such a test will help save lives in Canada and around the world.