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Researchers at ChristianaCare and Delaware-based Lisen Imprinting Diagnostics (LisenID) are launching a study to validate a technology designed to detect one of the earliest molecular markers linked to lung cancer development, potentially helping physicians find answers when biopsy results are unclear. The collaboration, led by ChristianaCare’s Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research, will evaluate LisenID’s QCIGISH (Quantitative Chromogenic Imprinted Gene In-Situ Hybridization) diagnostic platform in patients enrolled in ChristianaCare’s lung cancer screening and diagnostics program. Researchers will validate whether the technology can identify early molecular changes linked to cancer in tissue samples before those changes are visible on pathology under a microscope, potentially adding useful information when biopsy results are inconclusive. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death in Delaware and across the United States. Survival is much higher when the disease is found early, which has increased interest in tools that may help improve the speed and accuracy of diagnosis. Addressing a common challenge in cancer diagnosis As cancer screening technology evolves, earlier and smaller lesions are found that clinicians must confidently and accurately diagnose. In about 20% of cases, a lung biopsy does not provide enough information to confirm or rule out cancer. Other times, the tissue sample is limited or the results are unclear, leading to repeat testing, months of delay to diagnosis and worse patient outcomes. Traditional pathology relies on examining cells under a microscope. LisenID’s technology is designed to detect early molecular changes in biopsy samples linked to cancer that may not yet be visible through standard methods. Researchers will evaluate whether this technology can help in difficult diagnostic cases. “Advances in cancer care depend on evaluating new approaches that may improve diagnosis,” said Thomas Schwaab, M.D., Ph.D., Bank of America Endowed Medical Director of ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “This collaboration brings together clinicians and researchers to study a technology that could help reduce uncertainty for patients and support better decisions in challenging cases.” Bringing research to patient care The project brings together specialists from ChristianaCare’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, including thoracic surgeons, interventional pulmonologists and cancer researchers. The clinical effort is being led by Brian Nam, M.D., chief of Thoracic Surgery and Interventional Pulmonary. “One of the most difficult situations for patients is when a biopsy does not give a clear answer,” Nam said. “We may not have enough tissue or the results may be unclear. We are evaluating whether this technology can provide additional information that helps guide next steps and reduce uncertainty.” Jennifer Sims-Mourtada, Ph.D., associate director of the Cawley Center for Translational Cancer Research, said the study reflects the center’s focus on moving promising discoveries into clinical testing. “Our role is to rigorously evaluate new approaches in a clinical setting,” Sims-Mourtada said. “This technology has shown promise in published research and through collaborations with leading institutions. We are now working to determine whether it can provide meaningful information that supports better clinical decisions.” Building on prior research The collaboration builds on prior research involving the technology. LisenID reports its platform has been built on research on more than 10,000 clinical cases through collaborations with hospitals and medical centers in the United States and Internationally. Research published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Clinical Epigenetics, has suggested that early molecular changes in gene activity may help identify early lung cancer and evaluate small pulmonary nodules. Last year, LisenID also announced a research collaboration with Mayo Clinic focused on advancing applications of its technology in cancer diagnosis. The company was recognized as one of the top graduates of the 2026 Creative Destruction Lab Cancer Stream, a highly selective international accelerator for science-based startups. Tina Cheng, M.D., co-founder of LisenID, said the collaboration will help evaluate the technology in real-world clinical settings. “Some of the earliest changes in cancer occur at a molecular level before they can be seen under a microscope,” Cheng said. “Our goal is to validate the applicability of our test in clinical cases to see how the test can help physicians when standard testing does not provide clear answers.” The collaboration highlights growing ties between Delaware’s health care and biotechnology communities. By combining ChristianaCare’s cancer expertise with LisenID’s diagnostic technology, the organizations aim to improve tools that may help physicians diagnose lung cancer more accurately and earlier.
Visit the Tropics without a Flight - Largest Temporary Butterfly Exhibit a Sign of Spring
We all look for signs of spring that herald the changing of seasons – buds bursting on trees, plants pushing out of the ground, and migratory birds returning. But there is another sure sign of spring, and it takes place annually at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan – Fred & Dorothy Fichter Butterflies Are Blooming (March 1-April 30). The largest temporary tropical butterfly exhibition in the United States, Butterflies Are Blooming welcomes visitors into the 80-degree, five-story, 15,000-square-foot Lena Meijer Tropical Conservatory that is a paradise for thousands of butterflies flying freely all around. More than 7,000 chrysalides representing over 60 species travel to Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park throughout the exhibit's duration from tropical countries including Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Wendy Overbeck Dunham is Director of Horticulture at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She leads the team that oversees the care and presentation of its living collections - from tropical conservatories and outdoor gardens to seasonal displays - connecting guests to art, design, and the natural environment. View her profile “Stepping into Michigan’s largest glasshouse and being bathed in warmth while thousands of butterflies swirl in vibrant color and motion is a feeling you can’t get anywhere else,” says Wendy Overbeck Dunham, Director of Horticulture. “After months of winter, that first breath of tropical air and the close-up encounters with butterflies are pure joy.” Click on the link below: Thousands of butterflies emerge at Frederik Meijer Gardens, WOOD-TV8 (NBC Grand Rapids) The exhibition also offers guests up-close experiences at butterfly feeding stations, where tropical fruit slices and nectar-rich plants attract the butterflies, and at the Observation Station, where 1,250 chrysalides arrive at Meijer Gardens each week and transform into butterflies and moths. Additionally, the exhibition features vibrant floral displays, including arches of foliage and blooms in varied hues; unique nectar plant varieties; and colorful arrangements of air plants, bromeliads, and orchids. “Most people don’t know that butterflies taste with their tiny feet,” Dunham explains. “Our feeding stations create fantastic photo ops and bring butterflies close enough to admire their intricate wing patterns and how their straw-like proboscis uncoils to feed.” Guests also can visit the butterfly release stations to watch newly emerged butterflies make their debut and take their first flight as the stars of the show. “It’s an immersive experience,” Dunham adds. “The conservatory is full of energy! As you wander, take time to pause and watch the butterflies flit, flutter and feed. Those quiet moments are what make our butterflies unforgettable.” If you are looking to cover spring-related garden stories, including about Butterflies are Blooming, connect with Wendy below.
