BREAKTHROUGH VICTORIA INVESTS IN ALLESENSE TO ADVANCE CANCER DIAGNOSTICS AND CREATE HIGH VALUE JOBS
Breakthrough Victoria has invested $1 million in Victorian founded health tech company AlleSense, which is developing revolutionary cancer diagnostic tools that have the potential to transform pathology workflows globally, reduce diagnostic delays, and save lives. BV joins existing investor Welcome Ventures, who led this round.
At the heart of AlleSense’s innovation is the NanoMslide - a nanofabricated microscope slide that enables chemical-free cancer detection, offering faster, more accurate diagnosis for conditions such as breast, skin, and colorectal cancer. The NanoMslide was developed through years of La Trobe University-led research.
AlleSense aims to improve the detection of difficult-to-diagnose early-stage cancers by enhancing the visibility of abnormal cells and increasing diagnostic consistency, supporting more accurate and reliable pathology assessment.
Traditional pathology workflows can require multiple stains, reagents and specialised processing steps, each of which can add cost and variability. AlleSense’s label-free imaging approach is designed to generate consistent, high-quality cellular contrast at scale, strengthening digital pathology workflows and supporting greater diagnostic consistency, accuracy and confidence in early-stage cancer assessment.
This investment delivers direct benefits to Victoria by supporting the clinical validation of a homegrown cancer diagnostic technology and creating eight new high-skilled jobs in the state.
As a La Trobe University spin-out, AlleSense exemplifies the power of research commercialisation to drive economic growth and health innovation.
The company’s NanoMslide technology has the potential to improve early cancer detection and reduce diagnostic delays, strengthening Victoria’s position as a leader in precision medicine.
The investment aligns with Breakthrough Victoria’s mission to commercialise local research, grow the state’s innovation economy, and deliver tangible health outcomes. It also supports Victoria’s broader strategy to build sovereign capability in advanced diagnostics and precision medicine.
With 91 investment commitments totalling over $496 million, BV is one of Australia’s most active early-stage technology investors. A recent independent report by EY-Parthenon found BV’s portfolio is on track to generate $5.3 billion in economic impact for Victoria by 2035.
Quote attributable to Breakthrough Victoria CEO Rod Bristow
“This investment reflects our commitment to backing Victorian innovation with global impact. AlleSense’s technology has the potential to transform cancer diagnostics and strengthen Victoria’s position as a leader in health and life sciences.”
Quote attributable to AlleSense co-founder Professor Brian Abbey
“With support from Breakthrough Victoria and the Australian Economic Accelerator, AlleSense aims to make abnormal cells easier to detect without changing existing pathology workflows. By improving visual contrast in routine tissue samples, the platform has the potential to increase diagnostic concordance, strengthen clinical confidence, and improve the detection of early-stage cancers.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Steve Dimopoulos
“We’re proud to support world-class research and innovation – improving lives, creating high-value jobs and boosting economic growth across the state.”