mDETECT - Advanced Analysis Platform

Cutting-Edge Liquid Biopsy

High sensitivity and specificity for detection of: Breast, Lung, Prostate, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Colorectal cancers

The rapidly growing number of cancer drugs on the market warrants comparable patient monitoring tools that can determine cancer progression and scope of drug efficacy, especially in the late stages of cancer (i.e., metastatic stage). For these patients, there is an urgent clinical need to have better tools to monitor their cancer and response to therapy. Our blood test allows for rapid assessment of treatment response as an early determination of treatment efficacy, and therefore allows for a timely change in treatment leading to longer and better lives for these patients.

The Current Problem

New Metastatic Cases Annually

More than 20,000 new cases of metastatic cancer diagnosed each year in Ontario alone

Canadians Living with Metastatic Disease

An estimated 70,000 Canadians living with metastatic disease at any given time

Imaging Wait Times

CT and MRI scans experience wait times of up to 3-6 months in Ontario, depending on urgency and region

Scans Per Patient Per Year

Cancer patients typically require frequent imaging to track tumor progression, contributing to backlogs

Key Challenges in Cancer Monitoring

Current limitations in cancer care that mDETECT addresses:

Limited monitoring tools: The rapidly growing number of cancer drugs on the market requires comparable patient monitoring tools that can determine cancer progression and drug efficacy, especially in metastatic stages.

Imaging backlogs: Imaging services, particularly CT and MRI scans, experience long wait times—up to 3-6 months in Ontario—contributing to delayed treatment decisions.

Ineffective therapy exposure: Patients are often subjected to harsh, ineffective therapies without timely assessment of treatment response, leading to unnecessary side effects.

Invasive procedures: Repeated invasive tissue biopsies are often painful, risky, and costly, with risks of complications such as infection or bleeding.

Limited accessibility: Patients in remote communities must travel long distances for imaging scans, creating barriers to timely cancer monitoring.

Filling Gaps in Your Cancer Care

Advanced liquid biopsy technology for comprehensive cancer monitoring and treatment response assessment.

With an increasing number of cancer drugs on the market, there has never been such an unprecedented need to ensure that the right drug is administered to each patient. mDETECT addresses this critical gap by providing a personalized response to any cancer treatment, ensuring patients are not subjected to harsh, ineffective therapies. Our mission at mDETECT is to help men and women manage their cancer so that they can live a long and fulfilling life.

We have developed a liquid biopsy for multiple cancers and are partnering with ThermoFisher Scientific (TFS) to bring it to market through an intuitive, clinician-friendly web user interface for mDETECT's cancer assays based on DNA methylation analysis. By integrating TFS proprietary Ampliseq technology, mDETECT can be performed on several TFS Next Generation Sequencers (NGS) including the fully automated Genexus Sequencer, enabling streamlined, cost-effective, and high throughput testing within hospitals.

The solution accepts raw output from TFS's methylation plugin and transforms it into comprehensive, meaningful reports with key metrics such as a methylation index (indicative of methylation on circulating tumour DNA), the number of positive probes, graphical visualizations, thresholds for clinical significance, tracking of multiple longitudinal samples, and data export options compatible with electronic health records—all designed to empower clinicians to make confident, well-informed treatment decisions and help patients live longer, more fulfilling lives.

Technology

mDETECT's core technology, Methylation DETEct of Circulating Tumour DNA (mDETECT), utilizes targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of patented DNA methylated regions specific to cancer patients, allowing for precise and quantitative measurement of tumour burden. mDETECT has developed and validated six liquid biopsies covering Breast, Prostate, Lung, Pancreatic, Ovarian and Colorectal cancers. The tests are high throughput, cost effective, have a quick turnaround time, are tissue naïve and can be performed in the hospital.

These highly sensitive and cost-effective blood tests measure tumour behaviour irrespective of cancer type, stage, or context to aid in determining therapy response, resistance, and recurrence monitoring, empowering clinicians to make informed treatment decisions, identify responders, optimize drug selection, and minimize exposure to ineffective therapies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Key Capabilities

The mDETECT assay delivers critical insights for cancer care:

Early assessment: Provides an early assessment of patient prognosis and accurate reflection of treatment response, especially in cases where imaging methods are less informative

Tumour monitoring: Detection of changes in tumour burden during treatment with rapid identification enabling treatment plan adjustments and prevention of prolonged use of ineffective therapies

Minimally invasive: Simple blood draw that can be performed more frequently than traditional biopsies, minimizing the need for repeated invasive tissue biopsies and enhancing patient comfort

Remote accessibility: Available to patients in remote communities, eliminating long-distance travel for imaging and enabling worldwide deployment regardless of hospital experience with NGS

Turn-key solution: Easy-to-use interface suitable for all users regardless of experience level, with community deployment capability allowing hospitals around the world to use this technology

Reduced imaging burden: Reducing the number of scans needed for cancer patients by 2-3 per year frees up significant radiology capacity, and replacing 10-20% of cancer-related imaging could result in thousands of additional imaging slots annually

Faster diagnoses: Shorter wait times for patients with cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, or trauma lead to faster diagnoses and timely treatments through more efficient allocation of imaging services

Improved patient outcomes: By quickly identifying non-responders, clinicians can switch patients to more effective treatments, potentially increasing overall survival rates and improving care accessibility for a broader patient population

Security & Compliance

mDETECT implements comprehensive security measures to ensure data protection and compliance:

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

TOTP-based two-factor authentication using authenticator apps (Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, etc.) to prevent unauthorized access. Users can enable/disable 2FA from their security settings.

File Encryption

All uploaded files are encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption. Sample files, analysis outputs, and reports are automatically encrypted on upload and decrypted securely when accessed by authorized users.

Account Lockout Protection

Automatic account lockout after 3 failed login attempts or 3 failed 2FA attempts. Locked accounts can be unlocked by administrators, and all lockout events are logged for security monitoring.

Comprehensive Audit Logging

Complete activity logging tracks all user actions including logins, 2FA events, data access, modifications, deletions, and security events. Logs include IP addresses, timestamps, user agents, and operation metadata for complete audit trails.

Password Reset & Security

Secure email-based password reset functionality with automatic account unlock. Rate limiting prevents abuse (5-minute cooldown between reset requests), and all password changes are logged.

Rate Limiting

Rate limiting protects against brute force attacks and abuse. API endpoints are rate-limited, and login endpoints have stricter limits to prevent credential stuffing attacks.

Secure Infrastructure

HTTPS/SSL encrypted data transmission, security headers (XSS protection, content type sniffing prevention), HSTS, secure session management, and CSRF protection to protect against common web vulnerabilities.

Access Control & User Groups

Role-based access control with Lab Director management. Users can only access analyses from groups they're approved members of. Private groups provide additional isolation for sensitive data.

Our Team

A multidisciplinary team of scientific, technical, and academic experts.

Dr. Christopher Mueller, Ph.D

President and CEO

Dr. Chris Mueller is a senior scientist and professor at the Cancer Research Institute at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. His research has involved studying epigenetics in different cancers, the relationship between stress and BRCA1, and developing methylation-based liquid biopsies. Chris earned his Ph.D (Microbiology and Immunology) from McGill University. He is involved in all aspects of company growth and has won various grants in advancing mDETECT to clinical validation.

Dr. Irsa Wiginton, Ph.D

Business Development Officer

Dr. Irsa (Shoukat) Wiginton is a trained scientist and passionate about translational medicine. She earned her M.Sc. and Ph.D. studying infectious human pathogens at Queen's University and has successfully completed various certified business development and entrepreneurial training courses. She has a high level understanding of IP strategy, regulatory pathway, commercialization and business model development.

Keira Frosst

Scientific Officer

Keira Frosst is a dedicated scientist who has been fundamental in the development of the mDETECT tests. Her expertise in NGS-based liquid biopsies is instrumental and she plays a pivotal role in optimizing the assays for commercial sale. She has been the recipient of the Robert J. Wilson Fellowship and is currently on route to participate in the Lab2Market program.

Partner Organizations

Kingston Economic Development Corporation

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about mDETECT and how it can help with cancer monitoring and treatment response assessment.

What is mDETECT?

mDETECT is the ultimate liquid biopsy for monitoring cancer. It revolutionizes the management of metastatic cancers using advanced testing methods, providing high sensitivity and specificity for detection of Breast, Lung, Prostate, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Colorectal cancers.

How does mDETECT help with cancer treatment monitoring?

mDETECT provides rapid assessment of treatment response as an early determination of treatment efficacy. Our blood test allows for timely change in treatment, leading to longer and better lives for patients. It detects changes in tumour burden during treatment and provides an accurate reflection of treatment response, especially in cases where imaging methods are less informative.

What types of cancer does mDETECT detect?

mDETECT provides high sensitivity and specificity for detection of Breast, Lung, Prostate, Ovarian, Pancreatic, and Colorectal cancers.

How does mDETECT personalize cancer treatment?

mDETECT provides a personalized response to any cancer treatment so that patients are not subjected to harsh, ineffective therapies. By quickly identifying non-responders, clinicians can switch patients to more effective treatments, potentially increasing overall survival rates and improving long-term outcomes.

What makes mDETECT different from other liquid biopsies?

mDETECT offers a turn-key solution with an easy-to-use interface suitable for all users regardless of experience level, eliminating the need for PhD-level support required by other liquid biopsies. The solution is designed for community deployment, allowing hospitals around the world to use this technology regardless of their previous experience with NGS and liquid biopsies.

How does mDETECT technology work?

mDETECT utilizes targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of patented DNA methylated regions specific to cancer patients, allowing for precise and quantitative measurement of tumour burden. The solution accepts raw output from ThermoFisher Scientific's methylation plugin and transforms it into a comprehensive, meaningful report with key metrics such as a methylation index and the number of positive probes, which are critical for clinical interpretation and decision-making.

How often can mDETECT tests be performed?

mDETECT's liquid biopsy is minimally invasive and can be performed more frequently than traditional biopsies. Since it only requires a simple blood draw, patients can be tested regularly to monitor treatment response and tumour burden changes without the risks and discomfort associated with repeated invasive tissue biopsies.

What information is included in mDETECT reports?

mDETECT reports include key metrics such as a methylation index (an aggregate measure indicative of methylation on circulating tumour DNA), the number of positive probes, graphical visualizations, thresholds for clinical significance, tracking of multiple longitudinal samples, and data export options compatible with electronic health records. These features enable clinicians to make confident and well-informed treatment decisions.

Is mDETECT available for patients in remote communities?

Yes, mDETECT assays are available to patients in remote communities. A simple blood draw by a technician or nurse can be sent to a hospital for analysis, eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances for imaging such as CT and MRI scans. This makes cancer monitoring more accessible to patients regardless of their location.

How does mDETECT help reduce healthcare system burden?

By reducing the reliance on imaging scans for cancer monitoring, mDETECT helps alleviate strain on radiology departments. Reducing the number of scans needed for cancer patients by 2-3 per year could free up significant radiology capacity. If just 10-20% of cancer-related imaging is replaced with liquid biopsy, this could result in thousands of additional imaging slots annually for other critical conditions, leading to faster diagnoses and better overall outcomes.

When will mDETECT be commercially available?

mDETECT is working with ThermoFisher Scientific to integrate their proprietary Ampliseq technology into mDETECT tests, with an expected commercial launch in early 2026. The integration has been successful and results on clinical samples are concordant with mDETECT's original assay.

What is the partnership with ThermoFisher Scientific?

mDETECT is partnering with ThermoFisher Scientific (TFS) to bring the liquid biopsy to market. The partnership involves integrating TFS proprietary Ampliseq technology into mDETECT tests, allowing mDETECT to be performed on several TFS Next Generation Sequencers (NGS) including the fully automated Genexus Sequencer, enabling streamlined, cost-effective, and high throughput testing within hospitals.

How does mDETECT compare to traditional tissue biopsies?

Unlike traditional tissue biopsies, mDETECT's liquid biopsy is minimally invasive, requiring only a simple blood draw. It can be performed more frequently, reduces patient stress and discomfort, minimizes the need for repeated invasive procedures, and lowers the risk of complications such as infection or bleeding. Additionally, it provides results faster and can be performed in hospitals without the complexity of surgical procedures.

Is mDETECT cost-effective?

Yes, mDETECT tests are designed to be cost-effective. The solution enables high throughput testing, has a quick turnaround time, and can be performed in hospitals, reducing the need for expensive imaging scans and repeated invasive biopsies. The cost-effectiveness, combined with improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare system burden, makes mDETECT an attractive solution for cancer monitoring.

How secure is patient data in the mDETECT platform?

mDETECT implements comprehensive security measures including Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), file encryption at rest using AES-256 encryption, account lockout protection, comprehensive audit logging, secure password reset functionality, rate limiting, and secure infrastructure with HTTPS/SSL encryption. All data access, modifications, and security events are logged for complete audit trails.

Who can use the mDETECT platform?

The mDETECT platform is designed for clinicians, laboratory personnel, and healthcare professionals. The intuitive, clinician-friendly web user interface is suitable for all users regardless of experience level, making it accessible to hospitals around the world regardless of their previous experience with NGS and liquid biopsies. Users must be approved members of groups to access analyses.

The Ultimate Liquid Biopsy for Monitoring Cancer