Broadening the vascular diagnostic service continuum of Koven Technology Canada through the development and validation of a novel in vitro diagnostic technology to diagnose peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is caused by changes in the wall of the blood vessels of the legs that make them narrow and stiff. The main causes of PAD are atherosclerosis and smoking. Unlike many other diseases, there is no blood test that is capable of detecting PAD. Instead, persons have to be referred by their doctor and they must go to a specialized clinic where an expensive hour-long ankle-brachial (ABI) test is performed.

Koven wants to develop a simple, inexpensive and reliable blood test that can detect PAD. The project described in this application is intended to complete the next phase of the diagnostic kit development by confirming the components of the kit and the analytical method, designing a web-based interface, and beginning preparations for a clinical trial to validate the kit. Once completed, this blood test will make diagnosis of PAD less costly and easier to access.

Faculty Supervisor:

Peter Zahradka;Carla Taylor

Student:

Youjia Du

Partner:

Koven Technology

Discipline:

Medicine

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Manitoba