The Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) provides the infrastructure and resources needed to facilitate scientific discovery and incorporate emerging technologies and new testing modalities into clinical diagnostics for improved patient care and outcomes.

CAST’s initiatives span a dynamic range of innovation and partnership, driving progress in microbiology and digital pathology through collaborative efforts that enhance diagnostic precision and operational efficiency. In parallel, our Research & Development collaborations—such as those with Radiolife and Kephera Diagnostics—focus on advancing product development and scientific discovery, reinforcing our commitment to transformative healthcare solutions.

See below for a closer look into a few of CAST’s initiatives and collaborations. 

Clinical Innovation Initiatives

Focused efforts in microbiology and pathology transforming diagnostic workflows and outcomes.

The Microbiology Innovation Collaborative brings together physicians and scientists dedicated to developing and implementing new technologies to put into the practice of medicine for the identification, testing and mitigation of existing and emerging infectious disease pathogens in our patient population.

The collaborative oversees a biorepository of microbiological samples that support research focused on infectious disease and the microbiome. Samples for the biorepository are collected by the MaineHealth Biobank under an IRB approved protocol. Samples are annotated with clinical data from the MaineHealth EMR. Samples and data are deidentified prior to distribution.

For more information on how to access these samples, contact remnants@mainehealth.org or Biobank@mainehealth.org.

Advancing Patient Care Through Digital Pathology and AI

Digital pathology, a technology decades in the making, is being revolutionized at MaineHealth through the visionary work of Dr. Anne Breggia, Director of the Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), and Dr. Rob Christman, Chair of Pathology. By digitizing tissue slides and applying artificial intelligence (AI), their team is transforming traditional, manual diagnostic methods into faster, more accurate, and less subjective processes. This innovation not only streamlines diagnosis but also enhances patient care by reducing time to treatment.

MaineHealth’s investment in a tissue repository has enabled groundbreaking collaborations, including successful AI-driven prostate cancer detection with the Roux Institute in 2021 and ongoing efforts to improve gastric cancer diagnostics. These initiatives mark the beginning of a broader vision for AI in pathology—supporting translational research, personalized medicine, and computer-aided diagnosis.

R&D Collaborations

Strategic partnerships fueling innovation in diagnostics and therapeutic technologies.

Radiolife, founded by Sergio Ribeiro, MBA, is one of ten companies selected for the ROUX Institute’s Future of Healthcare Founders Residency, a program supported by Northern Light Health, MaineHealth, and the Maine Venture Fund. The residency provides mentorship, funding, and clinical expertise to healthcare innovators focused on improving patient care in Maine.

Radiolife’s Cube Scan technology can detect viruses, bacteria, and potentially cancer cells in saliva, blood, and other fluids in under 20 seconds. Using radio wave signatures and AI analysis, it can rapidly identify respiratory infections such as RSV, flu, or COVID—conditions that currently require separate tests and can take over 24 hours to diagnose. In early testing of 1,347 patient swabs, Cube Scan demonstrated 98.07% accuracy compared to PCR testing for COVID-19.

Anne Breggia, PhD, and Robert Carlson, MD, co-directors of the Center for Applied Science and Technology, are collaborating with Radiolife to provide technical guidance and clinical samples, helping validate the technology and support its integration into medical practice across Maine.

Collaboration Powers Progress in Lyme Disease Diagnostics

Lyme disease affects over 300,000 people annually in the U.S., and early detection remains a challenge. Traditional blood tests often miss early-stage infections, requiring follow-up testing. A new Hybrid ELISA test, developed by Andrew Levine, PhD, CEO of Kephera Diagnostics, offers a promising solution by detecting Lyme antibodies in both early and late stages—all in a single step.

Anne Breggia, PhD, Bob Carlson, MD, and Rob Smith, MD, are leading efforts to validate this test through a collaborative study involving MaineHealth’s Center for Applied Science and Technology (CAST), NorDx, and the Vector-Borne Disease Lab. The Hybrid ELISA has shown superior performance compared to current two-tier testing protocols.

CAST’s remnant sample program will process over 1,000 blood samples to support reproducibility and stability testing—key steps toward FDA approval.

Center for Applied Science & Technolgy
81 Research Drive
Scarborough, Maine 04074