Calidar launches pilot study of enhanced mammography technology

Calidar, an RTP-based developer of X-ray diffraction technology, recently imaged its first patient using a prototype of its 4D mammography device as part of a pilot study partially funded by the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Strategic Research Loan program. According to the company, it is the first in-human measurement of X-ray diffraction spectra. 

Unlike Calidar’s 4D mammography, current imaging tools lack the detailed information to identify breast cancer, leading to missed detection, delayed treatment, or unnecessary biopsies, said CEO Stefan Stryker.

“Instead of measuring how many X-rays are absorbed, we are measuring X-ray diffraction, which provides insight into the average cell spacing and composition and is more informative on whether a spot or region is cancerous or benign,” he explained. 

Traditional X-ray images show only shape and density, while Calidar’s technology identifies the tissue composition.

Stryker also pointed out that Calidar’s 4D mammography “is not distracted by the density information.” Dense breast tissue, found in nearly 50 percent of women, can make it difficult for doctors to identify abnormalities using current mammography technology.

Calidar’s pilot study will assess the 4D mammography device’s ability to distinguish between healthy tissue and breast cancer and compare its performance to that of existing mammogram devices. 

The study will involve approximately 60 participants who meet specific criteria and is being conducted in collaboration with Baptist Health Hardin, led by Principal Investigator Dr. Craig Kamen. 

Stryker and Calidar Chief Technology Officer Josh Carpenter founded the company in 2022 following a study Stryker conducted at Duke Hospital. The study demonstrated that X-ray diffraction imaging has the potential to enhance breast cancer detection. In addition to the NCBiotech Strategic Research Loan, the company has raised $2 million from angel investors.