CIRCULAR VISION · Project

Blood-Based Early Cancer and Gut Disease Detection Using Circular DNA Screening

healthPrototypeTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

When cells go wrong — in cancer or gut inflammation — they spit out tiny circles of DNA into your bloodstream. Think of them like distress flares your body sends up when something is off. This project built ultra-sensitive tools to catch those flares early, using lung cancer and inflammatory bowel disease as test cases. The idea is that a simple blood draw could one day flag disease long before symptoms show up, like catching smoke before there's a fire.

By the numbers

consortium partners

countries involved (CH, DK, ES, IT, US)

disease models validated (lung cancer and IBD)

total project deliverables

demonstrated technology deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Lung cancer and inflammatory bowel disease are often caught too late because current diagnostic methods lack sensitivity for early detection. Circular DNA — tiny rings of genetic material released into the bloodstream during disease — could serve as an early warning signal, but until now no reliable technology existed to detect and interpret these molecules at clinical-grade sensitivity.

The solution

What was built

The project built sensitive whole-genome screens for circular DNA linked to lung cancer and IBD, mapped circular DNA profiles from tumor tissue and blood samples, created disease models using oncogenes on circular DNA via CRISPR-Cas, and developed microfluidic lab-on-a-chip tools for detection — delivered across 13 project deliverables including 4 demonstrated prototypes.

Audience

Who needs this

IVD companies developing liquid biopsy and blood-based cancer screening kitsPharma companies with oncology pipelines needing companion diagnosticsMicrofluidics and lab-on-a-chip device manufacturers looking for new clinical applicationsClinical laboratories and hospital networks wanting early cancer detection capabilitiesBiotech startups focused on non-invasive diagnostics and precision medicine

Business applications

Who can put this to work

In Vitro Diagnostics (IVD)

enterprise

Target: Diagnostic kit manufacturers developing liquid biopsy products

If you are a diagnostics company looking for the next generation of blood-based biomarkers — this project mapped circular DNA profiles from lung cancer tumors and blood samples, and built sensitive screens for T cell receptor circles in IBD patients. These validated markers could be licensed and integrated into your existing liquid biopsy platforms to expand your product line into early cancer screening and inflammatory disease monitoring.

Pharmaceutical & Biotech

enterprise

Target: Pharma companies with oncology or immunology pipelines

If you are a pharma company developing cancer therapies or IBD treatments and need better patient stratification tools — this project demonstrated causal links between circular DNA and cancer progression using disease models with oncogenes on circular DNA. These models could help you identify which patients will respond to treatment and monitor therapeutic response in clinical trials.

Medical Devices & Microfluidics

mid-size

Target: Lab-on-a-chip and point-of-care device manufacturers

If you are a medical device company building miniaturized diagnostic platforms — this project developed microfluidic and lab-on-a-chip technologies specifically designed to detect circular DNA with high sensitivity. Licensing or co-developing this technology could give you a first-mover advantage in a diagnostic niche that currently has no commercial products on the market.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this circular DNA screening technology?

Based on available project data, specific licensing costs are not disclosed. The technology emerged from a FET Open research project with 9 consortium partners across 5 countries, so licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator (University of Copenhagen) and relevant IP-holding partners. Early-stage diagnostic technologies from EU projects typically involve co-development agreements.

Can this technology work at industrial scale for routine clinical screening?

The project demonstrated sensitive screens and mapping of circular DNA profiles, but this was done in a research setting across 2 disease models (lung cancer and IBD). Scaling to routine clinical diagnostics would require regulatory validation, clinical trials, and integration with existing laboratory workflows. The microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip components are inherently scalable for point-of-care use.

Who owns the intellectual property and how can it be licensed?

The consortium of 9 partners across 5 countries (CH, DK, ES, IT, US) likely shares IP according to their grant agreement. The coordinator is the University of Copenhagen. With 2 industry partners and 1 SME in the consortium, there may already be commercialization pathways being explored through these partners.

What regulatory approvals would be needed to bring this to market?

Any diagnostic product based on this technology would require CE-IVD marking in Europe and FDA clearance in the US. The project produced 4 demo deliverables including validated screens and disease model applications, which provide foundational data for regulatory submissions. However, full clinical validation studies would still be needed.

How far along is the technology — when could it reach the market?

The project ran from 2020 to 2024 under the FET Open program, which funds early-stage, high-risk research. With 13 deliverables completed including demonstrated disease models and sensitive screening tools, the technology is past proof-of-concept but would need further clinical development. A realistic timeline to market would depend on a commercial partner driving regulatory approval.

Can this be integrated with existing diagnostic laboratory equipment?

The project combined methods in molecular biology, microfluidics, DNA sequencing, cytometry, and bioinformatics. The cytometry and image analysis components were developed with commercial players already in the consortium, suggesting compatibility with existing platforms was considered. Integration specifics would depend on which detection method best fits your current workflow.

Consortium

Who built it

The consortium brings together 9 partners from 5 countries (Denmark, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, USA), with a balanced mix of 4 universities, 2 research institutes, and 2 industry players plus 1 other organization. The 22% industry ratio and 1 SME indicate this is primarily a research-driven effort, but the involvement of commercial players in cytometry and genomics means there are built-in pathways to take the science toward products. The coordinator, University of Copenhagen, is a world-class research institution. The international spread — including a US partner — adds credibility for both European and American market entry.

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITETCoordinator · DK
AARHUS UNIVERSITETparticipant · DK
REGION HOVEDSTADENparticipant · DK
ASOCIACION INSTITUTO DE INVESTIGACION SANITARIA BIOGIPUZKOAparticipant · ES
EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICHparticipant · CH
OSPEDALE PEDIATRICO BAMBINO GESUparticipant · IT
UNIVERSITA CATTOLICA DEL SACRO CUOREparticipant · IT

How to reach the team

University of Copenhagen (KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET), Denmark — reach out to the project coordinator through the university's technology transfer office

Order a report on this consortium See KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the CIRCULAR VISION team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right researchers and help evaluate fit for your diagnostic pipeline. Contact us for a matchmaking consultation.

Order a report on this topic More in Health & Biomedical