Developing a non-invasive cervical cancer screening technology for CELLECT Laboratories
August 25, 2026
Advancing a more accessible and private approach to cervical cancer screening through prototype development
Colleen McCann, SMART Centre, and Anthony Bauer, BioHub
About CELLECT Laboratories
The challenge
Traditional cervical cancer screening can present barriers for people in remote communities and those who may be uncomfortable with in-office examinations, including survivors of trauma. CELLECT sought to develop an alternative that could make screening more private and accessible while integrating with existing medical diagnostic processes.
Approach
- Combined CELLECT’s nanotechnology with the SMART Centre’s prototyping capabilities
- Developed and evaluated multiple primary and secondary design concepts
- Refined prototypes as requirements from medical diagnostic providers evolved
- Adapted the design to accommodate established sample-handling processes
- Used partner and industry feedback to guide successive prototype iterations
Results
- Produced multiple iterations of the screening technology
- Adapted the device to evolving requirements from medical diagnostic providers
- Refined the design for compatibility with sample-handling processes
- Delivered a final prototype and design suitable for limited testing
- Established a foundation for continued development and validation
Why it matters
- Supports the development of more accessible cervical cancer screening options
- Offers a potentially more private and less invasive approach to sample collection
- Could help address screening barriers in remote communities
- Supports more trauma-informed approaches to health-care screening
- Advances innovative medical technology toward further testing and development
Get started with your next project
We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
