Guided Therapeutics has received a $244,479 federal grant to advance its LightTouch Cervical Scanner, currently under FDA review for market approval.
The LightTouch, which consists of a base unit and single-patient-use calibration disposable, scans the cervix with light to identify cancer and pre-cancer painlessly and non-invasively.
Guided Therapeutics’ patented biophotonic technology is able to distinguish between normal and diseased tissue by detecting biochemical and morphological changes at the cellular level.
Guided Therapeutics said that the LightTouch test does not require laboratory analysis or a tissue sample and provides results immediately and eliminate costly unnecessary testing.
The US Treasury’s qualifying therapeutic discovery projects program grant is the seventh federal award, totaling more than $6m, given to support the development of the LightTouch.
Guided Therapeutics president and CEO Mark Faupel said that they are pleased to receive the grant and the recognition it brings to LightTouch non-invasive cervical disease detection technology.
“The LightTouch represents a breakthrough in early cancer detection, when the disease is most treatable, potentially improving cancer care outcomes in cervical cancer, while reducing the costs associated with unnecessary biopsies,” Faupel said.