SLDO Director leads new study to develop pioneering cancer detection technology

Professor Deborah Cairns, Director of the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory, has been awarded the CRUK Early Detection and Diagnosis Primer Award, together with Professor Yang Wei at Nottingham Trent University, to develop an innovative Smart Bra that can detect breast cancer.

Professor Cairns said "The successful development of the Smartbra could significantly impact healthcare equity by addressing a known barrier faced by many women with learning disabilities - engaging directly with the mammography machine. This device has real potential to offer a pathway to earlier detection and improved outcomes for women with learning disabilities and broader populations facing similar challenges when accessing life-saving healthcare.”

This pioneering new approach draws on findings from the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory (SLDO), published in 2024,  on cancer incidence and mortality rates among adults with learning disabilities in Scotland, which found that women with learning disabilities were less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer but more likely to die from breast cancer compared to women in the general population (Ward et al. 2024).  Reasons why they die earlier from breast cancer include poor uptake of cancer screening, delays and problems with diagnosis and treatment as well as problems with identifying their needs (Cuypers et al. 2024). More recently, a key theme emerging from a CRUK study investigating access to cancer screening for people with learning disabilities found that many women with learning disabilities were unable to engage directly with the mammography machine due to cognitive, sensory and/or physical needs (Study leads: Professor Katie Robb and Dr Marie Murphy). 

Professor Cairns explains why this new approach is needed, "We know that conventional mammography equipment presents significant technical barriers that unfairly affect women with learning disabilities. To address these challenges, supported by the CRUK Early Detection and Diagnosis Primer Award, we will develop an innovative Smart Bra solution utilising Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) technology. Nottingham Trent University lead, Professor Yan Wei, and his team have conducted preliminary validation studies using tissue-mimicking phantoms demonstrating promising cancer detection capabilities. This cutting-edge approach reimagines breast cancer screening by eliminating traditional physical and time barriers while providing continuous monitoring capabilities through integration into everyday clothing. By integrating advanced sensing technology with inclusive design principles, our approach has the potential to transform breast cancer screening accessibility for women with learning disabilities. Through continuous monitoring and reduced physical demands, the Smart Bra solution offers a pathway to earlier detection and improved outcomes for women with learning disabilities, as well as establishing a framework for developing inclusive medical technologies that benefit broader populations facing similar healthcare access challenges."

For more information about this research, please get in touch via sldo-info@glasgow.ac.uk