University of Minnesota, University of Cambridge and Cleveland Clinic Launch First Joint Project to Advance Lung Cancer Diagnostics

We’re proud to share that Distinguished McKnight University Professor Tianhong Cui (PI, University of Minnesota), Dr. Michael Crisp (PI, University of Cambridge) and Dr. Wen Wee Ma (Co-PI, Cleveland Clinic) have been awarded a $1 million collaborative research grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). This milestone marks the first-ever jointly funded project between the University of Minnesota and the University of Cambridge.

The funded project focuses on developing Nano-Embossed Microwave Photonic Sensors aimed at transforming early detection of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By targeting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA)—a key biomarker for early-stage cancer—the team is creating a powerful diagnostic tool that could drastically improve outcomes for patients worldwide.

This innovative research integrates microwave photonics (MWP) with polymer-based micro-ring resonator technology to overcome the limitations of traditional cancer diagnostics, such as high cost, slow processing, and bulky instrumentation. The result: a portable, cost-effective, point-of-care diagnostic platform that could dramatically increase access to cancer screening.

Beyond healthcare, the sensing technology also holds potential for environmental monitoring, agriculture, and other applications, offering scalable, real-world solutions to global challenges.

🔬 Project Collaborators:

• Dr. Wen Wee Ma (co-PI, Cleveland Clinic)
  
  
• Professor Richard Penty (co-PI, University of Cambridge)
  
  
• Professor Ian White (Collaborator, University of Bath)
  
  
• Dr. Peng Zhou (Senior Research Scientist, University of Minnesota)
  
  
• Dr. Martin E. Fernandez-Zapico (Collaborators, Mayo Clinic)
  
  

This trailblazing project highlights the power of international and interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling critical public health issues and advancing next-generation bio-sensing technologies.