Personalized Treatment for Wherever You Are in Your Cancer Journey
The current standard of care for cancer has made great progress over the years, but it still relies on large population studies. That means treatment is based on what works for the “average” person, not what may work best for you.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed, seeking second opinions, or exploring options after treatment, we’re here to guide you.
Why First Ascent Biomedical?
We go beyond the standard of care by giving your doctor personalized laboratory insights based on how your own cancer cells respond to treatment options.
1. Personalized Treatment Insights
We analyze the unique characteristics of your solid or liquid cancer, testing your cells against more than 150 FDA-approved drugs and drug combinations, to show your oncologist which therapies produced the strongest response in the lab.
2. Fewer Unknowns, More Informed Choices
Laboratory response data can help your oncologist weigh treatment options based on how your cancer cells responded, including which drugs showed little or no response.
3. More Options, More Hope
We test a broad range of therapies, including drug combinations and treatments that may not otherwise have been considered, giving your oncologist more options to evaluate. Our laboratory has performed testing across 52 cancer types and counting, including solid tumors and blood cancers.
4. Clearer Information for Shared Decisions
You will receive clear information about how your cancer cells responded in the lab, which you and your care team can weigh alongside your diagnosis, history and other test results when making treatment decisions
5. Results in About 10 Days
We aim to deliver drug sensitivity results in about 10 days from when your sample reaches our lab, so your oncologist has information when it matters.
6. Trusted Laboratory Standards
We aim to deliver drug sensitivity results in about 10 days from receipt of an acceptable sample, so your oncologist has information when it matters.
For more details, see our Frequently Asked Questions.
In a published study of children and young adults with relapsed or refractory cancers, 83% (5 of 6) of patients whose treatment was guided by functional precision medicine had an objective response. SEE THE RESEARCH
How It Works
We Work With Your Doctor Wherever You Are and Bring Clarity in 3 Simple Steps:
1. Start the Conversation
Contact First Ascent to learn more, or ask your oncologist to reach out to us through our contact form or by calling 786-746-6722. Testing is ordered by your physician.
2. We Test Your Cancer Cells
During a planned biopsy, surgery, or blood draw, your care team collects a fresh sample of your cancer cells and sends it to our CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited laboratory. There, we test your living cancer cells against more than 150 FDA-approved drugs and drug combinations.
3. Your Doctor Receives Clear Results
We aim to deliver drug sensitivity results in about 10 days from sample receipt. Your oncologist receives a personalized, ranked report showing which drugs and combinations produced the strongest response in your cancer cells, to consider when making care decisions with you.
PATIENTS WHO RESPONDED TO TREATMENT IN A PUBLISHED STUDY*
Treatment guided by functional precision medicine (5 of 6 patients responded) 
Treatment selected through standard approaches: (1 of 8 patients responded)
*Objective response is defined as partial response or better. These exploratory data points are from a small, non-randomized feasibility study (NCT03860376) prospectively published in Nature Medicine (2024;30(4):990–1000). This investigator-initiated clinical research used early-stage functional testing methods before First Ascent Biomedical standardized the platform within its commercial, CLIA-certified, and CAP-accredited laboratory infrastructure. Because study cohorts were non-randomized and sample sizes were small, these foundational results are descriptive of clinical feasibility and are not predictive of statistical performance outcomes on the commercial xDRIVE® platform. The xDRIVE® platform functions strictly as an AI-powered clinical decision-support software system to assist treating oncologists; final therapeutic selections remain entirely within the independent clinical judgment of the medical provider.
MEET LOGAN
At 3 years old, Logan was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer called acute myeloid leukemia. He was treated with chemotherapy and had a bone marrow transplant, but 14 months later, his cancer came back. Logan participated in the early clinical feasibility research that laid the foundation for the xDRIVE® platform, providing data to help inform his care team’s next treatment steps.
The testing showed which drug combination produced the strongest response against his cancer cells in the lab, along with which drugs showed little effect. Using those research insights alongside comprehensive clinical context, his care team tailored a new treatment plan, and Logan started treatment soon after. Logan remains in remission.
Logan’s experience reflects his individual clinical case. Individual results vary, and functional testing does not guarantee treatment success. Testing was performed as part of an investigator-initiated research study (NCT03860376) utilizing early-stage testing methods before the platform was standardized within First Ascent Biomedical’s commercial, CLIA-certified, and CAP-accredited laboratory infrastructure. Treatment decisions were made independently by Logan’s physicians. Shared with permission.
Exploring Cost and Access
We believe cost should not stand in the way of information that may help guide your care. Contact our team to learn about pricing, insurance, and payment options, and ask your oncologist whether testing may be right for you. Several sponsored research studies and programs may also reduce or fully cover the cost of testing for eligible participants.
Pricing and Payment Options
Contact our team to learn about the cost of testing and the payment options available to you.
Insurance and Billing Questions
We can help answer questions about insurance coverage and billing for functional precision oncology testing.
Financial Assistance
Ask our team whether you may qualify for financial assistance or a sponsored testing program.
Florida Department of Health · Florida Cancer Innovation Fund
The State of Florida is sponsoring testing at no cost for eligible Florida residents, expanding access to personalized laboratory insights close to home. Read more
Up to 200 patients
Now Enrolling
Nonprofits and Advocacy Groups:
By partnering with First Ascent Biomedical, you can help expand access to personalized testing for patients and families, while their physicians continue to guide treatment decisions.
Clinical Research Opportunities
First Ascent Biomedical collaborates with academic and clinical research partners on clinical studies evaluating functional precision medicine. If you are interested in a study, talk with your oncologist about whether it may be right for you. Full eligibility criteria and recruitment status are available on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
and Florida International University
Ex Vivo Drug Sensitivity Testing and Multi-Omics Profiling: an NIH-funded study in children with relapsed or refractory cancers.
Up to 65 participants · Recruiting
Fight Colorectal Cancer
Study funded by Fight CRC
xDRIVE® in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: a study evaluating xDRIVE® in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Read more
Up to 35 participants · Recruiting
Participation in research studies is voluntary and subject to eligibility criteria, informed consent, and approval by each study’s institutional review board. Your decision about whether to participate will not affect your access to testing or care. Partner names and logos are used with permission and do not imply endorsement.