UMass Chan Medical School and InnoTech Precision Medicine are proud to announce the receipt of a prestigious Massachusetts Life Sciences Center (MLSC) Women’s Health Innovation Grant. This collaborative award will support a pioneering pilot study focused on advancing point-of-care detection of cervical cancer using InnoTech’s cutting-edge diagnostic technology. The study is led by Dr. Heidi K. Leftwich, Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Dr. Elizabeth R. Allocco, Assistant Professor in the same department—both esteemed leaders in women’s health at UMass Chan Medical School.
The pilot study will assess the feasibility and diagnostic performance of InnoTech’s non-invasive, saliva-based liquid biopsy platform for rapid cervical cancer screening in clinical settings. Designed to deliver lab-quality, multi-omics-powered results within 30 minutes at the point of care, this innovative technology has the potential to transform how cervical cancer is detected—making screening more accessible, reducing diagnostic delays, and improving outcomes for women, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach populations.
Funded through the MLSC’s Women’s Health Innovation Program, the grant is part of a broader effort to close long-standing gaps in women’s health research and care through strategic collaborations and technological advancement. This partnership between UMass Chan Medical School and InnoTech reflects the power of academic-clinical-industry synergy to drive meaningful progress in translational medicine.
This milestone underscores the vital role innovation plays in expanding early detection strategies for women’s cancers and demonstrates a strong, shared commitment to advancing equitable healthcare solutions. Both teams look forward to sharing findings from this important study and continuing to develop technologies that positively impact women’s health and well-being.
