Callaghan grant to boost Matakina’s breast cancer arsenal

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Callaghan Innovation grant to boost Matakina’s global breast cancer arsenal

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, 13 June 2013 – Matakina Technology, developers of the world-leading volumetric breast density assessment software Volpara, today announced that Callaghan Innovation are co-funding the development of new and improved software tools to aid in the earlier detection of breast cancer and their ability to roll out to more sites globally.

The $500,000 business R&D grant will help fund VolparaDose™ (radiation dose tracking software), VolparaQuality™ (a quality assessment tool), VolparaPopulation™ (a resource management tool), and Volpara3D™ (a tool for mapping breast density) along with cloud-based demonstration tools which will allow potential customers to easily access the power of the Volpara product suite from anywhere in the world.

“Volpara has been extensively evaluated by international researchers and is gaining serious traction in clinical use, particularly in the US market where more than half the states either have laws or bills requiring screening clinics to tell women if they have dense breasts – a known breast cancer risk,” says Matakina CEO Dr Ralph Highnam who is appreciative of the investment. “The funding means we can keep up the pace expanding on both the market and product development fronts, going far beyond the current competition.”

Callaghan Innovation Acting GM of R&D Grants Graham Smith says, “As the Crown Entity charged with accelerating commercialisation of innovation by firms in New Zealand, one of our key roles is to help promising, innovative companies like Matakina develop further and achieve their potential on the global stage.”

Volpara has been chosen by researchers for large trials including the national screening programmes of the Netherlands and Ireland, with others due to start shortly. Matakina say more than 1 million women have now been measured using its Volpara breast density assessment software worldwide. Volpara is in clinical use at two Auckland breast clinics and is scheduled to be installed at Wellington Hospital’s high-risk breast cancer clinic this month.

ENDS

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