Low-cost CO2 cryotherapy for treating breast tumors in low-resource areas
Low Cost Carbon Dioxide-Based Cryoablation for Breast Cancer Treatment in Low Resource Settings
This project is developing an affordable carbon-dioxide cryotherapy device to treat breast tumors for women in low- and middle-income countries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Kubanda Cryotherapy, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11185492 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I am a patient in a low-resource setting, this project is building a cheaper device that freezes breast tumors using carbon dioxide so treatment can be offered near local clinics. The team is completing laboratory and safety work needed for FDA clearance, including GLP benchtop testing, biocompatibility checks, and updates to manufacturing under cGMP. Their Phase I results showed similar outcomes to a commercial argon system, and they plan a pilot clinician training program in Nairobi, Kenya to teach local providers how to use the device. If the device clears regulatory and usability milestones, trained providers could offer a minimally invasive option without expensive argon equipment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people with localized early-stage breast tumors who can be treated with a percutaneous cryoablation approach in a clinic setting.
Not a fit: Patients with widespread metastatic disease, tumors not amenable to local ablation, or those who require systemic chemotherapy are unlikely to benefit from this local treatment alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could expand access to low-cost, minimally invasive local treatment for early breast tumors in low-resource regions.
How similar studies have performed: Early Phase I work by the team showed comparable results to an argon-based commercial system, but larger clinical implementations are still limited.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Kubanda Cryotherapy, INC. — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Surtees, Bailey — Kubanda Cryotherapy, INC.
- Study coordinator: Surtees, Bailey
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.