From Lab Bench to Breakthrough: How Collaboration is Bringing Cancer Detection Closer to Patients
When Dr. Shalini Gupta left a thriving academic career in Canada to start Asima Health, many saw it as a risk. For her, the real risk was not acting on a vision that could transform cancer detection in North America and beyond.
“Everyone said I was making a big mistake,” she recalls. “But I wanted to build something meaningful that could reach patients worldwide.”
As Founder and CEO of Asima Health, Dr. Gupta is pioneering decentralized cancer diagnostics, improving access to early cancer detection across Canada and the United States. Her partnership with Arete Biosciences, a U.S.-based life sciences accelerator, is speeding this mission.
A Scientist with Entrepreneurial Drive
Dr. Gupta earned her PhD in chemical engineering, specializing in point-of-care diagnostics (POC) — technologies that bring lab testing directly to patients.
“Product development really excited me. I wanted more hands-on innovation than academia could offer,” she says.
With prior experience launching research spin-outs in India, and guidance from her husband, a serial entrepreneur, she took the leap—founding a MedTech startup during the pandemic.
Personal Experience Driving Innovation
In 2017, an incidental medical finding led Dr. Gupta to an oophorectomy, exposing a major gap in cancer care: no simple blood test existed for early ovarian cancer detection.
“All I had were ultrasounds and radiology tests,” she recalls. “Something was missing—and something had to be done.”
This moment inspired Asima Health, focused on a multi-cancer diagnostic platform that is affordable, decentralized, and accessible for patients in Canada and the U.S.
Building from the Ground Up
Launching Asima Health required vision and courage.
“The first employee I hired was a biomedical engineer who had been out of work for a couple of years. I promised her one year of pay—out of my own pocket if needed. She believed in the mission.”
This early hire helped develop prototypes, refine assays, and establish a culture blending academic rigor with entrepreneurial grit.
Partnership with Arete Bio
A major turning point came with collaboration with Arete Biosciences, experts in accelerating life science product development in the U.S.
“We’re building an early, accessible, affordable, decentralized test for cancer,” says Dr. Gupta. “Arete’s engineering expertise has been critical in refining our hardware system.”
Jacob Hirsch, Arete Bio’s Head of Partnerships, recalls:
“We were excited by the potential to decentralize cancer testing. Being at the forefront of that change is inspiring.”
Together, Asima and Arete developed working instruments and tested real clinical samples, achieving promising early results.
From Prototype to Clinical Validation
Asima Health’s technology is entering clinical validation with Rush Medical Center (Chicago, U.S.) and Moffitt Cancer Center(Tampa, U.S.). With IRB approvals, Asima can gather essential data toward commercialization in Canada and the U.S.
Next steps include:
- Expanding test sites in Canada and the United States. Refining instrument design for clinical settings
- Transitioning to single-use cartridges compatible with clinical workflows
“Right now, we have an R&D device. For clinical deployment, the design must evolve, and Arete’s support is crucial,” Dr. Gupta explains.
Looking Ahead
Asima aims to launch its first CLIA-lab-based Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) by next year, partnering with existing CLIA labs. The focus remains on being a products company, not a service provider.
Strategic priorities:
- Validating performance through multi-site clinical collaborations Automating and refining hardware for scalable production. Developing disposable consumables aligned with diagnostic best practices
- Building regulatory and commercial partnerships in Canada and the United States
“Working with Arete has been a great pleasure. They’ve helped us bridge the gap between idea and life-changing product,” Dr. Gupta adds.
FAQ – Decentralized Cancer Testing
Q1: What is decentralized cancer diagnostics?
A1: Decentralized cancer diagnostics bring testing closer to the patient, using portable point-of-care systems rather than relying solely on centralized labs.
Q2: Where is Asima Health based?
A2: Asima Health is a Canada-based MedTech startup developing early cancer detection systems.
Q3: How does Arete Biosciences support Asima Health?
A3: Arete Biosciences provides engineering, prototyping, and regulatory guidance, helping Asima move from concept to clinical-ready devices.
Q4: When will Asima Health launch its diagnostic tests?
A4: The first CLIA-lab-based Laboratory Developed Test (LDT) is expected by the end of next year, targeting Canada and U.S. clinical sites.
About Asima Health
Asima Health is a Canada-based MedTech company developing decentralized diagnostics for early cancer detection and monitoring, serving patients across Canada and the U.S.
About Arete Bio
Arete Bio accelerates life science product development in the United States through expert engineering, design, and regulatory strategy, partnering with innovators like Asima Health.
