#Canada #Foster City #ADELA #Gairdner Award #Daniel De Carvalho

Dr. Daniel De Carvalho Receives the 2025 Canada Gairdner Momentum Award

In a momentous recognition of innovative scientific research, Adela, Inc. proudly announces that Dr. Daniel De Carvalho, the company's Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Canada Gairdner Momentum Award. This accolade celebrates exceptional contributions to the biomedical and health sciences, highlighting Dr. De Carvalho's groundbreaking work in cancer research and blood testing technology.

Dr. De Carvalho’s significant achievements include early breakthroughs in understanding the role of DNA methylation in cancer biology, and he is widely acknowledged for developing Adela's state-of-the-art technology for blood-based cancer tests. His pioneering efforts in the field hold immense potential for improving cancer screening processes by allowing for earlier detection of various cancers through a simple blood test—a significant leap forward that could enhance treatment outcomes for countless patients.

The Canada Gairdner Awards, established in 1957, honor scientists whose research has profoundly influenced human health and disease understanding. With 426 awards distributed to laureates from over 40 nations, many of the past recipients have also won Nobel Prizes, signifying the caliber and significance of this recognition. The Gairdner Foundation has noted Dr. De Carvalho's influential role in cancer epigenetics and immunotherapy, particularly for his innovative discovery regarding transposable elements' involvement in anti-tumor immunity through mimicking viral behavior.

One innovative aspect of Dr. De Carvalho's research involves a novel method for isolating genomic information from blood samples—a challenge in the field of cancer diagnostics. Through his work at the University Health Network's Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, he has developed a high-affinity enrichment process that isolates the methylated regions of the genome, enabling a comprehensive capture of valuable genetic data. This development facilitates improved opportunities for detecting cancer signals in the bloodstream, greatly outperforming existing technologies that tend to focus on smaller genomic areas.

Adela is now advancing this groundbreaking technology for applications in minimal residual disease monitoring and multi-cancer early detection (MCED). The significance of Dr. De Carvalho's findings extends well beyond the laboratory, with the potential to transform cancer management strategies globally.

Lisa Alderson, CEO of Adela, expressed immense pride in Dr. De Carvalho’s accomplishments, stating, “We congratulate Daniel for this remarkable achievement that acknowledges his tremendous contributions to cancer research. His innovations have the potential to lift the burden for millions affected by cancer every year. We are eager to push these breakthroughs forward through our advancements in the genome-wide methylation platform, enhancing cancer diagnosis and management.”

Adela, Inc. is on the cutting edge of technology aimed at revolutionizing cancer diagnosis and management through innovative blood tests designed for minimal residual disease monitoring and early cancer detection without the need for tumor tissue. By effectively capturing essential genomic information, Adela ensures that MRD testing becomes accessible to all patients, thereby removing dependency on available tumor samples.

Their initial product, grounded in this genome-wide methylome enrichment technology, has recently seen clinical validation for predicting and monitoring recurrence in head and neck cancer patients, with findings published in the prestigious Annals of Oncology. The company has attracted investments from leading venture capital firms, including F-Prime Capital, OrbiMed, Deerfield Management, and Labcorp, further emphasizing confidence in their innovative capabilities.

As the landscape of cancer diagnostics continues to evolve, the achievements of Dr. De Carvalho underscore the importance of scientific innovation in addressing one of humanity's most pressing health challenges. The medical community watches closely as Adela positions itself at the forefront of advancements in cancer detection technology, driven by the transformative insights of its visionary team.