4 ms·

Ask HN: Which startups are fighting Cancer?

11 points by mychael 8y ago

I don't have a medical background, but I'm an engineer and I would like to help contribute my skills towards cancer cure research or treatment. What are the most impactful startups in this space?

scooterdog 8y ago
Source: was cancer researcher, now for 20 years on commercial side (sales, marketing, bizdev etc). Largest impact to reduce cancer rates/mortality is early detection. Biggest valuations alas in late-stage disease, that's reality, for $8K/mo targeted Rx that only extends life a matter of months (on average, although some remarkable responders i.e. Jimmy Carter's metastatic melanoma). Largest startup by far for early detection of cancer is GRAIL, something like $1.3B invested. Long tail of small companies with their unique special sauce. A few off the top of my head: Bluestar Genomics, Epigenomics AG, CellMax Life (out of Taiwan), Singlera Genomics, LAM Research, EarlyDx.
- kristianp 8y ago
  Is it possible to get early diagnosis of lung cancers such as Mesothelioma? I knew someone who has just died from this less than a year after diagnosis. It's something that's rare enough that false positives might be a problem.
wasi0013 8y ago
I'm a Software Engineer and I would also like to help such researches with my skills... I'm emotionally attached to this fight as my mother died 3 years ago due to adenocarcinoma. That disease not only cost me my mother but also made the whole family financially weak... Although, I've completed my B. Sc in CSE ( in the same year my mom passed away) After completing my B. Sc I had joined a Startup as a software engineer and worked there for around 9 months. Since then, I've been providing python based web development, data mining and analysis services on various freelance platforms and through my website. With the help of my wife I have also started my own startup which consists of 6 members including us & focused on web application development & Data Mining/ Analysis services. I have keen interest in cancer research... Hopefully, I will pursue MS/PhD on relevant field when I have enough fund for that so that, I can learn more about it. My target is to save at least 1
evoneutron 8y ago
Might be a bit of a different angle to this, but this startup is fighting cancer by using drug-combination therapy approach: https://www.curematch.com https://www.curematch.com
jonsi01 8y ago
I would also be interested in helping with that kind of research. I am a hardware engineer with background in wireless engineering and other electronic design. Please let me know if you find something worth while.

11 points by mychael 8y ago

I don't have a medical background, but I'm an engineer and I would like to help contribute my skills towards cancer cure research or treatment. What are the most impactful startups in this space?

scooterdog 8y ago

Source: was cancer researcher, now for 20 years on commercial side (sales, marketing, bizdev etc). Largest impact to reduce cancer rates/mortality is early detection. Biggest valuations alas in late-stage disease, that's reality, for $8K/mo targeted Rx that only extends life a matter of months (on average, although some remarkable responders i.e. Jimmy Carter's metastatic melanoma). Largest startup by far for early detection of cancer is GRAIL, something like $1.3B invested. Long tail of small companies with their unique special sauce. A few off the top of my head: Bluestar Genomics, Epigenomics AG, CellMax Life (out of Taiwan), Singlera Genomics, LAM Research, EarlyDx.

kristianp 8y ago
Is it possible to get early diagnosis of lung cancers such as Mesothelioma? I knew someone who has just died from this less than a year after diagnosis. It's something that's rare enough that false positives might be a problem.

wasi0013 8y ago

I'm a Software Engineer and I would also like to help such researches with my skills... I'm emotionally attached to this fight as my mother died 3 years ago due to adenocarcinoma. That disease not only cost me my mother but also made the whole family financially weak... Although, I've completed my B. Sc in CSE ( in the same year my mom passed away) After completing my B. Sc I had joined a Startup as a software engineer and worked there for around 9 months. Since then, I've been providing python based web development, data mining and analysis services on various freelance platforms and through my website. With the help of my wife I have also started my own startup which consists of 6 members including us & focused on web application development & Data Mining/ Analysis services. I have keen interest in cancer research... Hopefully, I will pursue MS/PhD on relevant field when I have enough fund for that so that, I can learn more about it. My target is to save at least 1

evoneutron 8y ago

Might be a bit of a different angle to this, but this startup is fighting cancer by using drug-combination therapy approach: https://www.curematch.com https://www.curematch.com

jonsi01 8y ago

I would also be interested in helping with that kind of research. I am a hardware engineer with background in wireless engineering and other electronic design. Please let me know if you find something worth while.