Catching the Silent Killer Before it Strikes - A Novel Blood Test For All Ovarian Cancers

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Almost 300,000 women a year are diagnosed with ovarian cancer across the world. The number of cases is predicted to rise by 15% in the coming years. Unfortunately, due to non-specific symptoms and the current sub-optimal diagnostic testing for ovarian cancer, it is often only diagnosed in the later stages of disease when it has already spread. In the UK more than 60% of the women with ovarian cancer are faced with the fact that their disease has spread at diagnosis, with it often being dubbed 'The Silent Killer'. Furthermore, there is currently no ovarian cancer screening tool.The current blood test for ovarian cancer diagnosis is unreliable, often not detecting women despite an ovarian cancer diagnosis by other means, or only elevated in those with an advanced state of the disease. Additionally, it is often raised in benign unrelated conditions leading to needless distress to patients, and unnecessary utilisation of NHS resources. GenoME Diagnostics is developing a simple blood test which detects specific modifications of DNA present in the early stages of the most common and aggressive form of ovarian cancer (High-Grade Serous Carcinoma). This test exhibits superior sensitivity and reliability over the current ovarian cancer test. Our aim for this Women in Innovation project is to meet a dire unmet need in women's health, to expand validation of our groundbreaking test to the early detection of all ovarian cancer subtypes. Thus enabling all women with ovarian cancer to be treated earlier, potentially improving survival outcomes from 20% to 90 %, and quality of life for all those affected.Having completed my PhD in Breast Cancer Research in 2019, I successfully lead our ovarian cancer diagnostic project through the ICURe programme 2019, which facilitates the early-stage commercialisation and market validation of University Research. This led to subsequent InnovateUK funding, incorporation of the company and private equity funding. We were also crowned the All-Ireland Best New Start company in 2020 by IntertradeIreland. As Chief Operating Officer of GenoME Diagnostics, I lead the day-to-day management and operations of the company and the execution of our technical and commercial milestones. I am still early in my career in business, and I am excited to hone my leadership, commercial, and management skills through this programme. I am passionate in inspiring other women to take the steps needed to realise their full potential and capabilities, at the time that is right for them.