Are you interested in learning how AI startups are developing technologies to improve cancer outcomes? Be sure to listen to the latest episode of the Cancer HealthCast podcast. Brittany Connors, director of investor relations at the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Development Center, discusses how SBIR funds startups to develop technology for better cancer detection.

SBIR funding supports projects geared to tackle some of the biggest challenges you may encounter in cancer care and prevention.

Key Takeaways:

• NCI Director, Dr. Kimryn Rathmell, says women’s health research is an NCI priority with an assigned $1 billion to its development. SBIR’s priorities include focusing on working with women-led companies, where reports show only 1.9% of funding funnels to these companies.
• SBIR’s current technical ventures include solutions like interventions for insomnia in breast cancer survivors, financial hardships faced by women in cancer treatment, and risk assessments to identify women who are more susceptible to breast cancer.
• An important project includes NCI Cervical “Last Mile” Initiative that tests alternative approaches to screening through the SHIP Trial Network. This will help you see how women respond to therapies as cancer evolves.
• SBIR is working with a company who is developing the first AI-driven platform in an automated portable and wearable ultrasound device. This device connects to your phone or laptop, no radiation is required, and data are transferred to a secure cloud.
• SBIR contract application proposal topics were recently due, and topics submitted include technology for GI cancer prevention and early detection; wearable tech-to-remote monitor following treatment; drug loaded carrier partials for improved oral delivery for colon cancer prevention; syntactic microbes for Immuno-oncology therapies; and more. The goal is for you to eventually use these funded technologies to impact patients and save lives.

This podcast is hosted by GovernmentCIO Media & Research.