Brother Axel Batlle and Biomedical Engineering Team Pioneers Breakthrough in Skin Cancer Diagnosis

In a groundbreaking collaboration between SurgiVance Inc., a New York City-based startup, and a team of talented biomedical engineering students at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a revolutionary method for rapidly diagnosing skin cancer at the point of care is on the horizon pending FDA clearance.

Brother Axel Batlle and his team played a pivotal role in developing a critical component of SurgiVance's innovative biospecimen processing platform. Their task was to create a secure and contained sample preparation method, and to accomplish this, they invented a multi-chamber device that promises to transform the landscape of skin cancer diagnosis.

The device involves a sequence of chambers for optimal sample preparation. A tissue sample is inserted into a staining confinement chamber, followed by the release of a stain onto the sample through a valve. Subsequently, a third chamber releases a washing solution, resulting in a properly stained and washed sample ready for analysis under a microscope. What sets this solution apart is not only its efficacy but also its cost-effectiveness and passive nature, relying solely on gravity for reagent exchange, eliminating the need for mechanically active components.

The team’s effort were nothing short of impressive, with the team winning the prestigious "Best Design" award at the capstone research team projects ceremony. Their contribution is not only acknowledged within the academic sphere but has significant real-world implications.

Daniel S. Gareau, M.C.R., Ph.D., founder of SurgiVance, expressed his appreciation for the students' efforts: "The Rensselaer students were immensely helpful to SurgiVance in developing a diagnostic surgical pathology solution. It is, effectively, a histopathology lab in a box. It has the potential to transform skin cancer diagnosis and really improve patient care."

The impact of Axel and his team's work goes beyond the accolades they received; it has the potential to revolutionize the field of skin cancer diagnosis and, ultimately, improve patient outcomes.

From the Brothers at Epsilon Eta, a huge congratulations to Axel and his entire team!