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Guardian Technologies International, Inc. And Howard University Submit $5 Million Research and Development Grant Proposal

Posted on: Friday, 16 March 2007, 09:00 CDT

Guardian Technologies International, Inc. (OTCBB: GDTI), a leading technology developer of intelligent imaging informatics solutions, for the homeland security and healthcare sectors, has submitted a proposal to the U.S. Government for funding of a $5 million research and development grant to expand the current capabilities of Signature Mapping™ for the early detection of breast cancer.

Guardian has teamed with Howard University and the Medical Imaging Informatics Labs at the University of Southern California to pursue federal grant funding under the funded 'Center of Excellence' program. The research and development proposal is entitled, "Enhanced Training for Diverse Populations Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Signature Mapping™ and Expanded Mammography Database." The team has submitted its proposal under Broad Agency Announcement funding of the Department of Defense.

Approximately 41,000 women died from breast cancer in 2005, while 212,000 new cases of breast cancer were reported in the same period, according to statistics issued by the American Cancer Society. Studies have shown that African-American patients suffer from more aggressive breast cancer disease than other patients at the time of initial cancer detection. Any progress that can be made to improve early detection of breast tumors will have a positive life-saving effect for women of color, and will benefit all other breast cancer patients worldwide.

Building on the initial work conducted by Howard and Georgetown Universities, the proposed project would expand the clinical database from 260 patients to 500 patients, making it the largest longitudinal clinical database for breast cancer in the world. In addition, the proposed project would include the implementation of a DICOM-based, fault-tolerant data grid for image archiving and distribution; the development of a web-based front end complete with navigational and search tools capable of fully accessing the clinical database from anywhere in the world; and the development of interactive multimedia education modules for outreach teaching and training. Guardian would provide its cutting edge Signature Mapping™ computer-aided-detection and image processing technology along with other analytical tools to assist in the detection, visualization and clarification of breast lesions found in the mammography images. This project represents a significant advancement in the treatment of breast cancer as it will be based on Guardian's advanced imaging technologies, provide expanded data collection, create advanced medical imaging infrastructure, improve radiologists and clinicians knowledge of breast cancer and provide interactive multimedia training modules. The results of this research and development project have the potential to improve the effectiveness of low-cost screening mammography and ultimately to provide development tools and techniques for earlier breast cancer detection.

Funding would be used by Guardian to continue to develop and improve its signature mapping computer-aided-detection and characterization software tools for the early detection of breast lesions. Knowledge gained from this research and development project could be used for the advancement of Guardian's Signature Mapping™ imaging technologies across a broader range of healthcare imaging challenges, such as disease states of the brain, prostate, and lungs. The team has been directed and encouraged to directly contact the "Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program" (BCRP), a governmental organization better suited to the size and scope of the project, and better positioned to support larger grant funding requests. The Fiscal Year 2007 Defense Appropriations Act provides $127.5 million to the BCRP to support innovative research to eradicate breast cancer. This program just approved by Congress is administered by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command through the Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. The BCRP Award program is expected to release the criteria for funding under the program in the very near future. Upon release of the criteria the team will re-submit our proposal.

About Guardian Technologies International, Inc.

Guardian Technologies International, Inc. (OTCBB:GDTI) employs high-performance imaging technologies and advanced analytics to create integrated information management products and services. Guardian's technologies are focused on two primary markets: Homeland Defense and Healthcare Solutions. For additional information, visit www.guardiantechintl.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this document and those made from time to time by Guardian through its senior management are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to the future events or financial performance discussed in this release, based on management's beliefs and assumptions and information currently available. When used, the words "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "project", "should", "expect", "plan", "assume" and similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements concerning future plans or results are necessarily only estimates and actual results could differ materially from expectations. No assurance can be provided that grant funds will be made available to pursue this research and development project. Certain factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, among other things, in particular, the size and timing of contract awards, performance on contracts, performance of acquired companies, availability and cost of key components, unanticipated results from audits of the financial results of the Company and acquired companies, changing interpretations of generally accepted accounting principles, outcomes of government reviews, developments with respect to litigation to which we are a party, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, dependence on large contracts and a limited number of customers, lengthy sales and implementation cycles, market acceptance of new or enhanced products and services, proprietary technology and changing competitive conditions, system performance, management of growth, dependence on key personnel, ability to obtain project financing, general economic and political conditions and other factors affecting spending by customers, the unpredictable nature of working with government agencies and other risks, uncertainties and factors including those described from time to time in Guardian's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including without limitation, Guardian's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Guardian expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Source: Business Wire

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