OXcan

Oxford Cancer Analytics (OXcan) is a medical technology company developing minimally invasive blood tests for the early detection of cancer. The company leverages advanced proteomics, the large-scale study of proteins, and proprietary machine learning algorithms to analyze liquid biopsies for key biomarker signatures associated with cancers. OXcan's primary focus is on lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, largely because it is often diagnosed in late, incurable stages. The company's technology aims to identify molecular signatures in the blood of high-risk patients, offering a more affordable and accurate detection tool that can be integrated into existing clinical pathways and healthcare screening programs.

Founded in 2020 by Dr. Peter Jianrui Liu (CEO) and Dr. Andreas Halner (COO), the company originated from their work as graduate students at the University of Oxford. Dr. Liu is a medical doctor with a background in cancer research, while Dr. Halner specializes in clinical medicine and machine learning. Their initial research, published in the journal iScience, demonstrated the ability to double detection rates across eight cancer types by identifying key protein signatures. The company was established with the mission to significantly improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier diagnosis when curative treatments are more effective.

OXcan is a pre-revenue startup that operates on a business model centered on the development and future commercialization of its cancer detection tests. The company has established global partnerships with over 20 healthcare centers across the UK, US, and Canada to develop and deploy its technology. Having raised a total of $16.7 million through multiple funding rounds, including an $11 million Series A in January 2025, OXcan is positioned to advance its lung cancer test toward commercialization, pending regulatory approvals. The company is headquartered in Oxford, UK, with a significant presence in Toronto, Canada.

Keywords: early cancer detection, liquid biopsy, proteomics, machine learning, lung cancer screening, cancer biomarkers, medical technology, diagnostics, oncology, blood test, minimally invasive, AI in healthcare, molecular diagnostics, cancer research, healthcare innovation, preventative medicine, personalized medicine, clinical diagnostics, biomarker discovery, multi-omics