In the heart of Tulane University’s School of Science and Engineering, groundbreaking research was taking place, albeit with some unconventional challenges. On a recent weekday, the lab endured an unavoidable stench—a decomposing cow’s digestive tract. The organ, collected from the Northshore and stored over the weekend, had spoiled, rendering the fridge unsalvageable. For Dr. J. Quincy Brown, a biomedical engineering professor, mishaps like these were just part of the demanding process, as per this article from The Advocate. His team was racing against time to develop a revolutionary cancer surgery device, and they had only five years to achieve their ambitious goals. Brown described the team’s approach as “scrappy.” They sourced animal parts, such as organs from slaughterhouses and butchers, at no cost. These tissues served as stand-ins for human anatomy, allowing the team to refine their imaging techniques before human trials began. The project aimed to address a critical issue in cancer treatment: ensuring no cancer cells were left behind during surgery.
The team’s innovative device would allow surgeons to detect cancer cells in real-time during operations. Currently, removed cancerous tissue is sent for pathology, a process that can take days or weeks to confirm whether the margins are free of cancer. Brown’s team hoped to condense this timeline to just 10 minutes, enabling surgeons to act before the patient left the operating table. This breakthrough could dramatically reduce the need for additional surgeries and improve outcomes for patients.
The work was propelled by a $23 million contract from President Biden’s Cancer Moonshot program, part of a national effort to reduce cancer deaths by 4 million over the next 25 years. Brown clarified that the funding was not a grant; it came with strict expectations, including the delivery of a functional prototype within two years and readiness for hospital use by 2029.
Brown’s co-lead, computer scientist Dr. Brian Summa, illustrated the current challenges in pathology. He likened a tumor to a loaf of bread, explaining that traditional pathology examines just a few slices of tissue, leaving much of the tumor unanalyzed. The new device aims to photograph and analyze an entire tumor at a cellular level, generating up to four terabytes of data in just ten minutes. For context, a single terabyte can store 250 full-length movies. This massive data processing feat involves artificial intelligence, machine learning, and cutting-edge engineering.
While the device’s potential was vast, the road to success was fraught with technical challenges. During a prototype demonstration for President Biden, the laser failed twice due to the cold temperature in the room, forcing the team to scramble for fixes. Recently, a blurry image led them to discover that vibrations from an air conditioner were affecting the device. Such real-world hurdles were helping the team refine the technology to withstand hospital conditions.
The Moonshot project had also attracted top talent, many of whom were eager to return to Louisiana. Among the recruits were a Jesuit High School graduate from Alabama, a University of New Orleans alumnus from Sicily, and the daughter of a New Orleans musician relocating from Michigan. The team hoped to keep the technology rooted in Louisiana, with plans to deploy the device in two hospitals and two rural facilities by the end of the project’s five-year timeline.
The Tulane team’s efforts in cancer treatment and research represent a beacon of hope in cancer treatment. While the challenges are immense, the potential rewards—a significant reduction in cancer recurrence, fewer surgeries, and improved patient outcomes—are worth the struggle. The device promises to not only revolutionize surgery but also strengthen Louisiana’s role in cutting-edge medical research.
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