Risk-Adjusted Monitoring of Pancreatic Precancerous Lesions (MMAIC-IPMN)

Development of a robust and cost-effective microfluidic chip that enables the reliable quantification of genomic and proteomic biomarkers in serially collected liquid biopsies from individuals at high risk for pancreatic cancer.

In the collaborative project MMAIC-IPMN, Hahn-Schickard, together with its partners, researches and develops a microfluidic chip for the reliable quantification of genomic and proteomic biomarkers in serial liquid biopsies from individuals with Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms (IPMN). Along with multimodal models and artificial cohorts, the chip is a central element for a risk-adjusted, biomarker-based pancreatic cancer surveillance program. The concept relies on an innovative microfluidic chip that measures both cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and proteins in a Lab-on-a-Chip system. The digital PCR (dPCR) method enables absolute molecule counting, ensuring high reproducibility in repeated measurements. To optimize the cost efficiency of the liquid biopsy test, three approaches are pursued: automation of laboratory steps on a centrifugal microfluidic platform, multiplexing and miniaturization of reaction volumes, and exploring scalable polymer mass production technologies for the Lab-on-a-Chip system.