Innovation in Cancer Care: A Focus on Patient-Centered Solutions and Research Acceleration

In an evening that underscored both the promise of scientific progress and the profound human stakes of oncology, the 2025 CancerX Accelerator Showcase honored three startups whose innovations are reshaping the landscape of cancer care. Held on June 25, the annual event not only celebrated technological breakthroughs but also highlighted the essential roles of community voice, clinical urgency, and patient dignity in driving meaningful change.

Taking home the People’s Choice Award was First Ascent Biomedical, a company that captured the collective imagination of peers, clinicians, and advocates for its ambitious approach to personalizing cancer treatment. Selected by popular vote, First Ascent’s platform leverages functional precision oncology to test how an individual’s tumor cells respond to different therapies ex vivo, potentially informing treatment decisions in ways that genomic profiling alone cannot. For many patients facing limited options, this technology represents more than data—it offers a tailored strategy that could tip the odds in their favor.

Meanwhile, AIQ Solutions received the Discovery Acceleration Award, chosen by CancerX Champions for its work bridging one of oncology’s most persistent divides: access to clinical trials. By using advanced imaging analytics and AI-powered tools, AIQ helps identify subtle treatment responses and disease progression patterns that might otherwise elude traditional assessments. This not only sharpens trial endpoints but also holds promise for enrolling a broader, more representative patient population. In a field where trial ineligibility can be a silent barrier, innovations like these could reshape how quickly and equitably new therapies reach the clinic.

Perhaps the most poignant recognition of the evening was the Corinne Leach Patient Experience Award, bestowed upon Manta Cares. Named in honor of Dr. Corinne Leach, a leader in survivorship research, this award celebrates solutions that embed empathy into every layer of care. Manta Cares stood out for its digital platform designed to ease the complex journey patients and caregivers navigate—from treatment scheduling and symptom tracking to financial planning and emotional support. At a time when the logistics of living with cancer can overwhelm even the strongest families, such tools bring much-needed humanity back into the process.

Congratulations to First Ascent Biomedical, AIQ Solutions, and Manta Cares, as well as to the entire 2025 CancerX Accelerator cohort.