ARPA-H has launced a Poseidon Adventure of its own - an RFP that moves us toward developing a $100 MCED test. It's in the news this week.
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See the ARPA-H home page for POSEIDON - Platform Optimizing SynBio for Early Intervention and Detection in Oncology. (Get it?) There will be a "Proposers' Day" September 4 in Washington.
https://arpa-h.gov/research-and-funding/programs/poseidon
It's part of the Biden Moonshot. See the White House briefing document from August 13, 2024, below; it has a paragraph for Poseidon, among several other innovation programs.
This contracts webpage gives you an 8 page PDF about Proposers' Day and links to an online FAQ page.
https://sam.gov/opp/2c5036c43e434d389370c612d7558adc/view
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Find coverage at Everglade here. And at Becker Hospital Review here.
ARPA-H also has a "Precision Surgical Invervention" to make more cancers surgically curable. Read about it at ASCO POST here.
AI Corner
Here is an AI "TLDR" summary of POSEIDON.
The POSEIDON program, spearheaded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), is an ambitious initiative designed to transform cancer detection and treatment. It aims to create a next-generation, at-home multi-cancer early detection (MCED) system that uses synthetic biology to detect over 30 types of solid tumors at Stage I. The key innovation lies in its use of synthetic sensors that are both highly sensitive and specific, capable of identifying cancer in its earliest stages through simple breath or urine samples, making it possible to detect cancer when curative treatment is most likely.
POSEIDON’s vision is to develop an over-the-counter, user-friendly device that can be easily administered at home without requiring a visit to a healthcare professional. This device will be connected to a digital platform, integrating with telemedicine services and electronic health records (EHR) to ensure seamless communication with healthcare providers. The program's focus on affordability, accessibility, and integration into clinical practice aims to significantly reduce the incidence of late-stage cancer diagnoses, which are currently a major driver of cancer mortality and healthcare costs.
The program is divided into two main technical areas (TAs). Technical Area 1 (TA1) focuses on the design and development of synthetic biology-based sensors and reporters that can detect cancer-specific molecular signatures. These synthetic circuits will use advanced techniques such as multi-layer logic gates and signal amplification to accurately distinguish between different types of cancer. Technical Area 2 (TA2) involves the creation of the MCED kit, a hardware-software combination that will include a low-cost detection device, a user-friendly interface for at-home testing, and digital tools for reporting results and integrating with healthcare systems.
POSEIDON is structured into three phases over five years. The first phase, lasting 36 months, will involve the initial design, development, and testing of both the sensors and the detection device. Phase two, spanning 15 months, will conduct IND-enabling nonclinical studies to evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of the sensors. The final phase, lasting 9 months, will focus on first-in-human clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of the MCED kits.
The program encourages collaboration between academic institutions and commercial entities, particularly those with experience in regulatory processes and commercialization, to accelerate the development and deployment of these innovative cancer detection tools. By the end of the program, POSEIDON aims to have a commercially viable product ready for widespread use, drastically improving early cancer detection and potentially saving millions of lives.
This initiative also emphasizes the importance of human-centered design, ensuring that the end product is not only scientifically advanced but also user-friendly and accessible to a broad population. The program's success could revolutionize cancer care, making early detection as simple as a quick test at home and drastically improving survival rates.
