SurgiVance Inc., a diagnostic imaging device startup with headquarters in New York and Oregon, has secured a $2,245,000 National Cancer Institute Small Business Innovation Research Direct-to-Phase II grant (NIH 1R44CA302122) to advance its revolutionary pathology platform. The funding represents a significant milestone for the company's "pathology lab-in-a-box" technology, which aims to transform traditional pathology workflows through direct-to-digital, in-office processing.
Technology Platform and Innovation
The SurgiVance platform introduces advanced imaging hardware for microscopic visualization and AI processing directly on whole tissue, eliminating the need for traditional glass microscope slides. This technological approach enables cancer care to be expedited and improved through faster diagnostic capabilities.
"The SurgiVance 'pathology lab-in-a-box' is a novel biospecimen processing platform for direct-to-digital, in-office pathology," said Company Founder Dr. Daniel Gareau. "Thanks to support from our investors, New York State and the NCI, we're nearing a major breakthrough to unlock great value in healthcare."
The technology's potential impact on diagnostic speed is particularly noteworthy. According to Dr. John A. Carucci, MD, PhD, Mohs Surgeon at NYU Langone Health, "We have the potential to deliver histopathologic diagnosis in a matter of minutes which is unprecedented and can transform cancer management. 3D molecular markers have the potential to transform precision medicine."
Clinical Collaboration Network
The NIH grant includes subawards to leading medical institutions for clinical studies targeting cancer at the cellular and molecular levels. The collaborative network encompasses:
- Dr. John Carucci at NYU Langone Health
- Dr. James Krueger at The Rockefeller University
- Dr. Victoria Sharon at Northwell Health
- Dr. Anna Bar at Oregon Health & Science University
Dr. James Krueger emphasized the significance of the opportunity, stating, "One doesn't often get the opportunity to potentially re-define pathological evaluation like this."
Clinical Validation and Early Results
Early prototype testing has generated positive feedback from clinical collaborators. Dr. Victoria Sharon, Mohs Surgeon at Northwell Health, who was among the first to evaluate images from the lab prototype, noted, "My sense is that the medical device may be a major breakthrough in terms of being able to offer both higher quality care and much more of it."
Additional Funding and Support
Beyond the NIH grant, SurgiVance has secured additional funding through New York State initiatives. The company received a $150,000 grant from the Center for Life Science Enterprise at Cornell University, Cornell's NYSTAR-designated Center for Advance Technology (CAT), to collaborate with Dr. Kira Minkis at Weill Cornell Medicine. This funding supports clinical pilot studies to formulate, develop, and test key technology components in clinical translation contexts.
"Time, space are at a premium and the CAT grant advances our investigation as to whether this potentially groundbreaking innovation can be implemented with absolute integrity," said Dr. Kira Minkis, Mohs Surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Investment and Market Potential
The Portland Seed Fund has invested in SurgiVance alongside a group of dermatologist and surgeon angel investors, recognizing the technology's commercial potential. Angela Jackson from Portland Seed Fund commented, "With its deep, novel technology, SurgiVance has the potential to enhance medical outcomes for patients and revenues for doctors by expediting and improving diagnoses."
Board member Stanley Schwartz highlighted industry recognition of the growth opportunity, noting, "This is a cutting-edge optical innovation. Our strategic partners see the market and growth potential for high-tech solutions like SurgiVance."
Regulatory Status and Next Steps
SurgiVance has not yet undergone FDA review and may not currently be used to manage patient care. The company continues to advance its technology through clinical studies and development partnerships as it works toward regulatory approval and commercialization of its direct-to-digital pathology platform.
