Changing the trajectory of cancer screening

Through science, technology, and a commitment to its employees, GRAIL is innovating to alleviate the burden of cancer.

Many studies have proven that when cancer is detected early, survival rates increase significantly. However, according to the American Cancer Society, cancers without widespread screening recommendations represent approximately 70% of deaths from such illnesses. This reality is why a leader in cancer screening, GRAIL, is urgently advancing the science of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests in people ages 50 to 79.

“We are losing the war on cancer, largely because we are finding most cancers too late,” says GRAIL CEO Bob Ragusa. “GRAIL is developing innovative approaches to achieve our mission to detect cancer early when it can be cured.” The Menlo Park, Calif.–based company is pioneering a first-of-its-kind MCED test, available by prescription, that uses genomic technology and machine learning to screen patients’ blood for a DNA signal that is shared by more than 50 cancer types. 

GRAIL’s MCED test is recommended for individuals who are at an elevated risk, such as those 50 years of age and older. “GRAIL seeks to improve public health by finding cancer early to address the growing burden of late-stage cancer in an aging population and potentially bend the cancer mortality curve,” says Ragusa.

Currently, there are recommended annual screenings for only three types of cancer for women—breast, colon, and cervical—and two for men—prostate and colon—with an additional lung cancer screening available only for heavy smokers, depending on how many packs they smoked over at least 10 years. When added to standard of care screenings, MCED tests can identify many cancers that aren’t regularly checked for today. 

Adding MCED to patients’ health care routines could be a game changer by allowing their doctors to screen for more cancers. All of GRAIL’s efforts, according to Ragusa, are backed by the dedication of its employees. “Our culture is the foundation of everything we do,” says Ragusa. “To pursue a mission like GRAIL’s takes a unified collective of courageous, adept, and open-minded big thinkers.” And the hard work and strong sense of purpose among GRAIL’s employees is paying off. 

“Together, we’re taking on one of health care’s biggest challenges,” says Ragusa. “Our ultimate pursuit is to address the enormous toll that cancer has on patients and their families.”