Zero Pain, Maximum Benefit with CELLECT Laboratories

Summary: Transforming Women's Health with CELLECT Laboratories

At the Polaris Pitch Competition and Showcase, the audience displayed initial discomfort when an image of a speculum appeared, likely triggering memories of painful pap smears among the many women in attendance. However, this unease quickly morphed into intrigue as Ibukun Elebute, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of CELLECT Laboratories, unveiled an innovative solution set to revolutionize the femtech sector globally.

CELLECT Laboratories has developed a non-invasive method for collecting gynecological samples using nanotechnology. This innovative approach preserves DNA for the diagnosis of HPV, cervical cancer, STDs, and other related conditions. Elebute emphasized the pressing need for such advancements, citing troubling statistics from Cancer Care Ontario that reveal 36% of eligible individuals are overdue for cervical screenings, primarily due to the invasive nature of traditional tests like pap smears. This issue is exacerbated in the U.S., underscoring the urgency for improved solutions that could also benefit under-resourced countries.

Facing the challenge of transforming a deeply entrenched medical technology in a significantly under-researched area, co-founder CT Murphy was motivated to act following her own difficult experience with pap smears. During her final year of a Nanotechnology Engineering program at the University of Waterloo, Murphy and her team explored an alternative solution, yielding a patent-pending cell capture technology that utilizes menstrual blood. This menstrual fluid is not merely blood; it contains vital cells and extracellular DNA, permitting the identification of target cells while minimizing contamination from red and white blood cells.

In their current preclinical validation phase, CELLECT aims to reduce contamination levels, having already achieved a decrease from 50% to as low as 30%. Lowering contamination is essential for enhancing the reliability of their technology, which is vital for successful integration into gynecological research labs. Operating primarily on a B2B model, CELLECT aspires to facilitate broader availability of its collection technology to testing labs.

The success of CELLECT hinges on collaboration and expertise from various advisors, including leading professionals in chemical engineering and gynecology. Support from various initiatives, such as the Waterloo Institute of Nanotechnology Velocity scholarship, has allowed CELLECT to refine its intellectual property and pursue meaningful connections within the industry. Dr. Martin Smith of TechAlliance heralded their progress, noting CELLECT's commitment to advancing women’s health through groundbreaking technology.

Looking ahead, CELLECT is on the verge of raising a pre-seed funding round, aiming to attract investors who share their vision of making gynecological screenings accessible and painless. With an emphasis on scientific innovation and a resolve to dismantle barriers preventing women from obtaining crucial preventative care, CELLECT is poised to reshape the future landscape of women’s health diagnostics. Through their efforts, they envision a world where women’s health is prioritized, thoroughly understood, and consistently advanced globally.

For those interested in staying updated on CELLECT Laboratories and their groundbreaking solutions, further information and a waitlist are available on their website.