GRAIL’s mission is to detect cancer early, when it can be cured
Why early matters
Survival rates are higher when cancer is diagnosed at earlier stages.
However, effective screening only exists for a few cancer types, and most cancer is detected at later stages, when survival rates are much lower.
Late-Stage
Survival Rate
1X
Early-Stage
Survival Rate
5 - 10X higher
Aravanis AM, Lee M, Klausner RD. Cell. 2017; 168(4):571–574, 9.
The magnitude of our challenge
Human biology is complex, and research continues to reveal that the underlying mechanisms of cancer are even more diverse and elusive than previously understood—making early detection of cancer a challenge.
Extensive research suggests that cancer may be directly detectable with cell-free nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) shed by tumors into the bloodstream.
However, in order to develop effective early detection tests, we have to collect data from tens of thousands of people so that our machine learning algorithms can distinguish between people with and without cancer and this creates an unprecedented data challenge.
GRAIL’s approach
GRAIL aims to develop blood tests to detect cancer early, when treatment may be more successful.
To achieve this, we are building intelligent models to identify clinically actionable information from vast amounts of tumor genome data obtained through high-intensity sequencing.
To achieve this, we are building intelligent models to identify clinically actionable information from vast amounts of tumor genome data obtained through high-intensity sequencing.
Where hope meets rigor
At GRAIL, we’re unrelenting in the pursuit of our mission and will not stop until we find a better way. With the best talent in biology, clinical science, bioinformatics, deep learning, and engineering along with the passion of our leadership, our goal is to greatly decrease global cancer mortality.