Anyone who's ever done a breast self-exam knows how hard — and stressful — it can be to tell whether a lump is something to go to your doctor about or just part of normal monthly changes. Somayeh Raiesdana hopes to make that process much easier and more accurate.
The University of Alberta master's student has invented a portable device to obtain images of the breast that are then analyzed using artificial intelligence to determine whether cancer is likely present. The device could be used by women in their homes or by doctors for clinical breast examination in screening plans, specifically in developing countries where they may not have easy access to mammography, the gold standard in breast screening.
It's a great idea with huge potential, but the challenge for Raiesdana is how to get her product into the hands of people who need it. That's where a program based at the U of A is aiming to help.
The Lab2Market Validate program allows graduate student and postdoctoral innovators to assess the commercial potential of their technology and determine the appropriate path forward — a first step to bridge the gap between coming up with a great idea and having a product that's ready to sell.
Thanks to funding from PrairiesCan, Alberta Innovates and Mitacs with delivery partners at Innovate Calgary, the University of Lethbridge and Edmonton Unlimited, Raiesdana and 17 other students and postdoctoral fellows from the U of A, the University of Calgary and the University of Lethbridge are part of the first 16-week cohort.
They get one-on-one mentoring and workshops from business people with tech startup experience, learning entrepreneurial skills like how to build and refine a business model, and carrying out market research on their products by speaking directly with 100 potential customers.
"It's really about understanding the market and what they're going to need to demonstrate to get traction in that marketplace," says Darren Fast, associate vice-president of innovation, knowledge mobilization and partnerships at the U of A.
"My scientific background — especially technological knowledge — is solid. But on the commercialization procedures here in Canada, I need more help," says Raiesdana, who came to the U of A in 2022 as a visiting professor from Iran, where she was an associate professor of biomedical engineering at Qazvin Islamic Azad University.
"This screening device is not only a brilliant project from a scientific perspective but also for making a difference in women's lives," says Vivian Mushahwar, professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, and co-supervisor of Raiesdana's thesis. Mushahwar is Canada Research Chair in Functional Restoration and director of the U of A's Institute in Smart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations. She herself developed Smart-e-Pants for the prevention of pressure injuries which is now marketed under the name Prelivia, and is now working on a hairlike micro-implant that could restore walking ability in patients with spinal cord injuries.
