Georgia Tech research team developing new lymphedema diagnostic for cancer survivors

10/27/2014

A research team in biomedical engineering at Georgia Tech is developing a new technology to determine why many breast cancer patients and survivors are impacted by lymphedema; and they need help. “We need to conduct an extensive number of interviews with relevant stakeholders related to cancer survivorship and lymphedema,” said Mike Weiler, a fifth year PhD student leading the effort.

Weiler and his team of researchers recently received a $2 million grant as part of a National Science Foundation program called Innovation Corps to help researchers direct efforts towards "areas of clinical need." The team is interviewing cancer survivors in order to understand how to best direct their research and development efforts in a way that truly advances the standard of care for cancer survivors and lymphedema patients.

“Our current research focus is on enhancing the standard of lymphedema diagnosis, especially focusing on earlier detection,” said Weiler. “Based on initial lymphedema therapist feedback, we have begun development of a low-cost 3D scanner specifically for early diagnosis of lymphedema.”

The idea is for this scanner to be as accurate as the current gold standard (Perometer), but much less expensive. “We're designing it so that survivors could routinely scan themselves at home. The critical feedback we are getting through the interviews will help us determine what we should be doing to make this a more clinically viable and impactful product.”

Breast cancer survivors who have been impacted by lymphedema and are interested in helping by providing valuable feedback to this project are asked to contact Mr. Weiler directly via email at mweiler@gatech.edu or by phone at 703.505.7720.