Objective The BLACANDI project aims to dramatically improve the diagnosis and management of bladder cancer patients by substituting a highly invasive and expensive test with a non-invasive and inexpensive test. Bladder cancer is the 6th most common cancer with an estimated 357,000 new cases worldwide every year, of which 180,000 are European. This type of cancer has the highest lifetime treatment costs per patient (pp) of all cancers. This high incidence, coupled with it’s relapsing nature, means that bladder cancer poses an enormous burden on health care systems. Current diagnostics and recurrence routine tests are performed through highly invasive and expensive procedures, such as cystoscopy. The Danish SME Genomic Expression Aps has licensed a technology composed of a patented filtration device that enhances the selection of tumor cells in urine, and aims at the clinical validation of a new combination of biomarkers.Our solution BLACANDI (Filtration Device in combination with selected biomarkers) is currently being tested in a small clinical trial in Denmark, in patients presenting with hematuria (blood in urine). Preliminary results indicate that the test can substitute cystoscopy identifying more than 90% of all bladder cancer patients.Substituting routine cystoscopy with the BLACANDI system could cut the cost of diagnosis and managing bladder cancer in half. In Europe the cost of diagnosing bladder cancer is €1.8 billion/year, thus we could save €900 million.Whereas the technology behind the filtration device and the selected biomarkers is already demonstrated, further maturation of the tests into fully commercial and operational solutions is hampered by the absence of a large clinical validation of the BLACANDI system. Furthermore, there is a need to corroborate our business strategy, since it requires customization to different health care systems. This phase 1 feasibility study provides us that opportunity. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologybladder cancermedical and health sciencesbasic medicinephysiologycytology Programme(s) H2020-EU.3.1. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being Main Programme H2020-EU.3.1.3. - Treating and managing disease Topic(s) PHC-12-2014-1 - Clinical research for the validation of biomarkers and/or diagnostic medical devices Call for proposal H2020-SMEInst-2014-2015 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-SMEINST-1-2014 Funding Scheme SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1 Coordinator GENOMIC EXPRESSION APS Net EU contribution € 50 000,00 Address BORGSKRIVERVEJ 3 2 TH 2400 Kobenhavn Nv Denmark See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 71 429,00