Our mission is to revolutionise prostate cancer testing by providing a simple, non-invasive, and affordable urine test kit that empowers individuals to test if they have prostate cancer. We envision a future where the early detection of prostate cancer is accessible to everyone, regardless of geographical location or financial means. Testing for prostate cancer by a prostate biopsy can be expensive. Therefore our mission is to develop an affordable urine test kit, which can offer accurate and reliable results. This enable individuals to detect prostate cancer at its earliest stages when treatment options are most effective. By eliminating the need for costly and invasive procedures, we aim to remove barriers to testing, ensuring that individuals do not miss their window of recovery.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, the 5th leading cause of cancer death in men and the 4th most common cancer overall.
It is the cancer that occurs in the prostate, a gland surrounding the male urethra
and found only in males for making a fluid that is part of semen. It is caused by mutations in DNA of a normal prostate cell, leading to cells growing out of control, forming tumours.
It is a slow-growing, potentially lethal disease usually found in men over the age of 50.
Most men with early prostate cancer do not notice any health changes. Although cases of the disease have been reported in all age groups, more than 80 percent of all prostate cancers occur in men over the age of 65.
U.S.A
Incidence Rank: 3
Incidence Number: 62.3/100,000
Death Number: 32,438
Brazil
Incidence Rank: 1
Incidence Number: 45.6/100,000
Death Number: 18,345
South Africa
Incidence Rank: 2
Incidence Number: 22.3/100,000
Death Number: 3,896
India
Incidence Rank: 12
Incidence Number: 2.47/100,000
Death Number: 16,783
Australia
Incidence Rank: 2
Incidence Number: 66.1/100,000
Death Number: 3,455
The total death rate from prostate cancer was significantly higher as compared to 1990.
Death rate in the age group of below 40 in 2019 is less than 1990.
In 2019, the data shows that the death rate is increasing with age, reaching a peak in those 80 years old and above.
Age Standardised
Incidence Rate:
China
From 8.3/100,000
to 17.3/100,000
Global
13.2%
95.2%
LATE DIAGNOSIS
As people do not have regular check-ups, the emergence of prostate cancer is often overlooked. Metastasis is generally present in late diagnosis and cannot be treated with ease, leading to fatal results.
DISCOMFORT
Invasive techniques and needles used during diagnosis nowadays may cause pain and discomfort to patients. Take biopsy as an example, sampling tissue through the rectum or perineum with a thin needle may cause pain.
SAFETY
Serious infection may be caused from procedure of extraction of body tissue. Moreover, side effects may be brought, for instance, affecting daily urination of patients.
• Prostate Biopsy
• PSA testing
• MRI Scanning
To design a rapid urine test for the
early detection of prostate cancer.
→ Our test kit inserts antibodies to detect PSMA
→ Collect and transfer patients’ urine into the test kit
→ Detect the presence of the antigen within 15 minutes
• The strip in our test kit detects PSMA
• Synthetic biology was used to engineer plasmids containing the sequences for PSMA antibodies (J591)
• A strain of E. coli called SHuffle and BL21 was used to produce the antibody
Our test is non-invasive as only urine is used for detection.
Our test can be performed conveniently anytime and anywhere.
Our test is a lot more affordable in comparison to the costs of other detection methods.
Boost people’s willingness to reserve
a check-up for prostate cancer