WHO:
Scientific team of analytical chemist prof. Michal Holčapek
WHERE:
At the Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice
WHAT:
Patented methodology used to diagnose pancreatic cancer from blood analysis
WHY:
Because this new methodology can save thousands of lives one day. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most insidious diseases; patients start to experience difficulties only when they are usually no longer helped. The probability that they will live to be five years after diagnosis is only 10 %. However, if pancreatic cancer was detected in time, it would be possible to treat and perhaps cure it.
HOW:
The discovered methodology is revolutionary and innovative for two reasons. Firstly, it makes it possible to detect the disease at an early stage, and secondly, it does so very simply – by examining the blood. With an accuracy of up to 90 %, it can analyze up to 20,000 samples per year. In the beginning, it would serve mainly three groups of people: a) People over 50 years of age who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, because they are included in groups with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer. b) People with a hereditary occurrence of this disease in the family. c) Patients with non-specific symptoms who are obviously having difficulties but cannot pinpoint the cause.
WHEN:
After the so-called clinical validation, which is a study that must be verified before the actual use of this method in practice. In addition, the methodology must be validated by a series of clinical trials.
AWARDS:
• Thanks to this discovery, Prof. Michal Holčapek was included in The Power List 2020 in the prestigious journal The Analytical Scientist, i.e. among the 60 best analytical chemists in the world.
• The method has obtained a European patent.
