PEAR-TREE
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Prospective Evaluation of AI R&D tool for patient stratification - Trial for Renal immuno-oncology model Experimental Evaluation
IRAS ID
312529
Contact name
Maxine Tran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ourotech Limited (trading as Pear Bio)
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Kidney cancer is a large unmet need in the UK, with 13,000 new patients diagnosed annually, a 52% survival rate, and nearly 5,000 patients dying each year. Pear Bio have developed a diagnostic test that helps oncologists decide on the appropriate course of treatment for patients with kidney cancer. The diagnostic test uses a small tumour sample taken from the patient, alongside a blood sample. Samples are placed in a device called an organ-on-a-chip, which acts as a proxy for the patient to test treatment options in a laboratory without exposing the actual patient to those treatments. Various approved treatment options are tested in parallel organ-on-a-chips at Pear Bio's central laboratory. A report is generated on which treatments work best on a given patient's tumour sample, so their oncologist can prescribe an effective treatment.
As Pear Bio's technology is still in early development for kidney cancer, this study will serve to validate the technology. Tumour and blood samples are taken from patients during standard-of-care surgery and used to optimise Pear Bio's technology to test FDA approved therapies used to treat kidney cancer. This study will enable future studies that are used to guide treatment decisions between multiple approved treatment options on a personalised basis. Outside of sample collection during surgery, this is a laboratory-based study designed to optimise various aspects of Pear Bio's technology for kidney cancer, including treatment administration in the organ-on-a-chip.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/YH/0068
Date of REC Opinion
2 Mar 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion