Luminoma: Lighting the Path to Better Skin Health
Skin cancer is a growing concern, especially amongst an ageing population, yet the current diagnostic tools often fall short.
A clinician will visually assess a mole to determine whether it should be biopsied for laboratory analysis, however the distinction between a benign lesion and a skin cancer can be subtle. Because existing tools aren’t well accepted by clinicians, their assessment typically relies entirely on their training and expertise. Getting this decision wrong can have serious consequences for the patient, so to avoid missing a cancer, clinicians often make up to 10 specialist referrals for each confirmed cancer. Unnecessary biopsies not only waste resources, adding stress to already busy clinics and medical laboratories, but they can also result in unsightly scarring for the patient.
Maher Khaled, CEO
Luminoma, led by Dr. Maher Khaled, is set to revolutionise skin cancer screening with a portable and non-invasive device that accurately determines whether a skin lesion is malignant or benign, providing clinicians with assurance in their biopsy decision.
“Our technology promises to allow clinicians to provide a quicker, more accurate diagnoses that both detects more cancers and significantly reduces the need for invasive procedures. Better skin cancer screening, will allow effective treatment to be given sooner, resulting in better outcomes for patients and the healthcare system.”
The perfect pairing of sensor technology and machine learning
Dr. Michel Nieuwoudt, CSO
Invented under the leadership of Dr. Michel Nieuwoudt, Luminoma’s Chief Science Officer and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, the Luminoma platform pairs a miniaturized Raman spectrometer with advanced machine learning algorithms.
The spectrometer non-invasively analyses the molecular composition of skin lesions, capturing detailed spectral data that is processed by algorithms trained on vast datasets of benign and malignant lesions. Within seconds, the device can identify molecular changes within the lesion that are associated with cancer, providing clinicians with a quick and highly accurate recommendation on whether or not a confirmatory biopsy is needed.
“Luminoma’s platform promises to prevent missed cancers and save resources. Our device is able to demonstrate 99% sensitivity for differentiating skin cancers and benign lesions with a specificity of 72%, highlighting the unnecessary biopsies that could be avoided”
What sets Luminoma apart?
Unlike some competitors that only focus on melanoma, Luminoma’s system can detect almost all skin cancers whilst distinguishing them from benign lesions and inflammatory dermatoses, making it a versatile dermatology tool in clinical settings. This broad application increases its usefulness and potential market reach. Luminoma’s technology stands out with impressive sensitivity and specificity, meaning it can reliably detect cancerous lesions while minimizing false positives. This accuracy helps reduce the number of unnecessary biopsies, especially in the USA, where up to 92% of lesions biopsied under suspicion of being melanoma turn out to be benign. By reducing unnecessary procedures, Luminoma can alleviate patient anxiety and ease the burden on healthcare resources. With precise and rapid diagnostics, Luminoma aims to reduce healthcare congestion and operational costs, ultimately improving patient management and health outcomes.
“Luminoma is developing diagnostic tools that will set the gold standard for precision and speed. They won’t just save clinics and patients significant time and money, but promise to transform the quality of care that can be offered.”
Thriving in New Zealand’s deep tech innovation scene
Luminoma is backed by University of Auckland's Inventors Fund, Pacific Channel and Bridgewest Ventures, giving it a solid foundation of support. This support allows Luminoma to tap into New Zealand's booming medical device innovation scene. The company plans to run extensive tests in both specialist dermatology and primary care settings, with clinical performance data expected by May 2025. This will pave the way for a Series A funding round to design and test a beta prototype, using direct clinical feedback to fine-tune the product.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Luminoma to the Bridgewest Ventures family. Their innovative approach to dermatological diagnostics has the potential to completely revolutionise skin cancer screening. We’re excited to support their journey and leverage our network of expert advisors to help bring this game-changing technology to market.”
Further information on Luminoma can be found here, or email info@luminomadx.com