American Gastroenterological Association’s GI Opportunity Fund Supports Amplified Sciences in Advancing Pancreatic Cyst Care

Bethesda, MD and West Lafayette, IN (June 4, 2026) — Amplified Sciences, a pioneering clinical-stage diagnostics company specializing in next-generation multi-omic assays, has secured a significant new investment from the American Gastroenterological Association’s (AGA) GI Opportunity Fund. This funding is part of the company’s recent Seed+ financing round, which was predominantly led by existing investor OCA Ventures and attracted participation from other institutional investors. This investment is a strong testament to the healthcare community’s rising confidence in Amplified Sciences’ groundbreaking diagnostic assay, PanCystPro, developed to transform the landscape of pancreatic cystic lesion evaluation.

PanCystPro is an innovative diagnostic tool designed to vastly improve the risk stratification of pancreatic cystic lesions, which are clinically challenging to assess due to their heterogeneous nature and potential for malignant transformation. The assay aims to empower clinicians with precise, molecular-level insights that go beyond current imaging and cytology techniques, allowing for more informed, evidence-based clinical decision-making. With pancreatic cancer ranking among the deadliest cancers and often detected too late for curative treatments, PanCystPro represents a critical advancement in early detection and management.

The clinical necessity for improved pancreatic cyst diagnostics emerges from the substantially increased detection rates of pancreatic cysts, thanks to the widespread adoption of high-resolution imaging technologies over the past two decades. While many pancreatic cysts are benign and require only routine monitoring, a subset carries a high risk of transforming into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality. Existing diagnostic paradigms struggle to accurately differentiate high-risk cysts from benign lesions, often leading to overtreatment or delayed intervention, which adversely impacts patient outcomes.

Amplified Sciences has engineered PanCystPro with a proprietary approach that integrates multi-omic biomarker analysis, leveraging ultrasensitive detection technologies capable of operating with minimal sample volumes. This addresses a critical gap in the field: the ability to conduct robust molecular profiling from low-yield cyst fluid samples, which traditional methods cannot reliably process. The assay utilizes BioMatra, the company’s ultrasensitive optical reporter platform—a cutting-edge technology licensed from Purdue University that dramatically enhances signal detection sensitivity, enabling unprecedented resolution in biomarker quantification.

Diana Caldwell, CEO of Amplified Sciences, emphasized the clinical urgency and transformative potential of PanCystPro, stating, “Investment from the AGA’s GI Opportunity Fund is a resounding endorsement of our mission to provide clinicians with tools that significantly reduce ambiguity in pancreatic cyst management. Our technology is poised to shift the clinical paradigm, facilitating more targeted interventions and improving patient survival rates by enabling earlier and more confident detection of high-risk lesions.”

The inclusion of the AGA GI Opportunity Fund in this funding round underscores the strategic importance of innovations that can markedly improve gastrointestinal disease diagnostics. Dr. Byron Cryer, President of the AGA, highlighted the initiative’s alignment with broader clinical goals: “Our investment criteria focus on technologies that offer meaningful enhancements to patient care. Amplified Sciences’ PanCystPro assay represents a notable breakthrough in gastroenterology, particularly in managing one of the most insidious and difficult-to-diagnose conditions.”

Pancreatic cysts’ rising prevalence imposes new demands for advanced diagnostic modalities that deliver rapid, reliable, and actionable data. Amplified Sciences’ Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Jo Davisson, noted, “The field has long struggled with the diagnostic ambiguity surrounding pancreatic cysts. PanCystPro’s low sample volume requirement and high diagnostic accuracy address several long-standing challenges, facilitating more streamlined clinical workflows and better patient outcomes.”

The proceeds from this Seed+ financing will be strategically allocated toward several key objectives. Primarily, the funds will enable Amplified Sciences to complete a pivotal real-world observational study designed to robustly demonstrate PanCystPro’s clinical utility in diverse healthcare settings. Additionally, the capital injection will support the expansion of commercial partnerships that will broaden the assay’s accessibility and integration within clinical practice environments. Efforts to validate supplementary diagnostic tests within the company’s CLIA-CAP-accredited laboratory in Irvine, California, will also be accelerated.

Amplified Sciences’ diagnostic innovations stem from the convergence of advanced molecular technology, clinical expertise, and rigorous validation frameworks. This multi-disciplinary approach is essential to overcoming the complexity inherent in pancreatic cyst evaluation, where traditional morphologic criteria often fall short. By incorporating molecular biomarker signatures into routine diagnostic pathways, PanCystPro aims to redefine standard-of-care practices, reducing unnecessary surgical interventions and optimizing surveillance strategies.

The company is also committed to advancing the scientific understanding of pancreatic cyst biology through its platform technologies. BioMatra’s ultrasensitive optical reporters enable multi-omic analyses that capture intricate molecular alterations, offering novel insights into cyst pathogenesis and progression. This level of detail holds promise not only for diagnosis but also for the future development of targeted therapies and personalized treatment regimens.

Amplified Sciences’ dual-location infrastructure, with corporate headquarters in West Lafayette, Indiana, and its state-of-the-art clinical laboratory in Irvine, California, positions the company at the nexus of scientific innovation and clinical translation. The collaborative relationship with Purdue University ensures ongoing access to pioneering technologies and a continuous pipeline of diagnostic advancements aimed at addressing unmet needs in gastrointestinal oncology.

The American Gastroenterological Association, founded in 1897, continues to be a pivotal organization in fostering innovations that transform the diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal diseases globally. The AGA Institute’s administration of practice guidelines, research initiatives, and education programs complements its strategic investments in early-stage companies like Amplified Sciences, illustrating a comprehensive effort to elevate standards of care across gastroenterology.

As pancreatic cysts become increasingly common findings due to enhanced screening and imaging protocols, the emergence of diagnostic assays like PanCystPro marks a decisive step toward precision medicine in gastroenterology. By enabling earlier and more accurate risk assessment, this technology has the potential to save lives through timely intervention, reduce healthcare costs by avoiding unnecessary procedures, and ultimately improve quality of life for patients worldwide.

News Publication Date: June 4, 2026

Web References:

• https://amplifiedsciences.com/
• https://www.gastro.org/