Ovarian Cancer Detection with a Biochemist
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Thank you to our sponsor
🙏 CSIRO ON Innovation Program
Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal women’s cancers because it’s often diagnosed too late and there’s still no routine screening test like a mammogram or Pap smear.
In this episode of Emerging Tech Unpacked, host Lucy Lin sits down with Associate Professor Michelle Hill, a biochemist, scientist‑entrepreneur, and founder/CEO of Proseek Bio, to unpack one of the most shocking realities in women’s health: right now, the only way to definitively diagnose ovarian cancer is to surgically remove the ovary and send it to pathology. That means many women undergo major surgery, sometimes losing an ovary, just to find out whether a mass was cancerous or completely benign.
In this conversation, we cover:
What ovarian cancer is and why it’s called a “silent killer”
Key ovarian cancer symptoms to watch for (bloating, pelvic pain, feeling full quickly, frequent urination, fatigue)
Why today, definitive diagnosis often still requires surgery
How Michelle’s company Proseek Bio is developing multi‑biomarker blood tests to help decide: “Do I really need this surgery?”
The bigger picture of women’s health, medical gaslighting, and Michelle’s journey from scientist to health‑tech entrepreneur
With special thanks to the CSIRO ON Innovation Program for sponsoring this important episode! 🙏
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Chapters:
00:00 Ovarian Cancer Wake-up Call
01:03 Meet Associate Professor Michelle Hill
04:04 Cake Lab
05:08 Why Diagnosis Needs Surgery
08:20 Silent Killer Explained
09:17 Why Detection Is Hard
12:07 Early Detection Saves Lives
17:03 Women Left Out Of Medical Research
20:09 Medical Gaslighting Reality
22:12 Symptoms You Can't Pin Down
34:29 Proseek Bio Origin Story
36:42 How The Blood Test Works
39:22 From Academia To Founder
42:54 Raising Capital Lessons
48:32 Future Skills For Scientists and Founders
53:22 Femtech And Women's Health
55:48 Practical Health Actions
