Femtech World

🚀 🚀 Five advances in the world of femtech this week 🚀 🚀 🏡 The first at-home test delivers more accurate gestational diabetes diagnoses. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dwckE3SE 🔬 In a world-first, a live human birth that used an ovarian support cell (OSC) technology that matures eggs outside the body has been successful. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eE-uwWbB 🩸 A new screening method that combines laser analysis with a type of AI is the first of its kind to identify patients in the earliest stage of breast cancer, a study suggests. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eehaaGeX 💡 The National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the Office Of Research On Women's Health have launched a new resource which aims to close the gaps in women’s health research and care. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eG2UNHn2 💰 The European Investment Fund (EIF) has invested €30 million in a venture capital fund, SISTAFUND, that supports startups led by women entrepreneurs and gender-balanced teams. Read more: https://lnkd.in/etuCetQ7 #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #femtech #healthtech #genderhealthgap #research #innovation #healthequity #gynaecology #reproductivehealth #equalities #healthinequalities #women #medtech #maternalhealth #diagnostics #menstrualhealth #hormonalhealth #funding #venturecapital #investment #vc

🩺 New insights have revealed that screenings for breast cancer in the UK have caught more than 60,000 cases. Despite this, uptake for breast cancer screening is struggling to return to pre-Covid levels, with levels down from 71.1% in 2018 to 2019 to 64.6% from 2022 to 2023. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) is now calling on the UK Government to work with the NHS to make it easier for people who are eligible to access screening. Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Every year, screening programmes help spot thousands of cancer cases across England. This is testament to the research that made these programmes possible, and the hardworking NHS staff who deliver them. “But there’s so much more that can be done. Making screening more digital, and improving data collection to know who is and isn’t coming forward, will help to target people who currently miss their appointments, but would like to attend. This is essential – better access to screening means better chances of catching cancer early.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/ez24d2Ku

🏡 World-first at-home test delivers more accurate gestational diabetes diagnoses A new at-home oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) analyses the blood sugar tests immediately, with results instantly shared with the requesting antenatal care team for diagnosis and clinical review. This overcomes the problems with sample processing and delayed testing carried out in hospital or community-based. Using standard NHS sample processing procedures, 9% of women in the study were diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The researchers found that when blood was processed more quickly, 22% of women in the study were found to have gestational diabetes, a difference of 13%. Without faster sample processing, more than half the women found to have gestational diabetes would have gone undiagnosed. 💬 James Jackson, founder and CEO of Digostics, said: “Professor Meek’s research definitively shows that in the UK’s standard OGTT testing is failing to diagnose more than 50 per cent of women who have gestational diabetes during pregnancy. “Without a diagnosis, the risks of gestational diabetes cannot be mitigated and mothers and babies are being left at risk of serious, lifelong, and life-threatening health complications." Read more: https://lnkd.in/dwckE3SE #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #femtech #healthtech #genderhealthgap #research #innovation #healthequity #gynaecology #reproductivehealth #equalities #healthinequalities #women #medtech #maternalhealth #diagnostics 

🔬 World’s first live birth using eggs matured outside the body successful In a world-first, a live human birth that used an ovarian support cell (OSC) technology that matures eggs outside the body has been successful. Unlike traditional IVF methods, which rely on 10 to 14 days of high-dose hormonal stimulation to mature eggs, this new method – named Fertilo – uses engineered, young ovarian support cells to recreate the natural egg maturation process in a laboratory setting. This process replaces 80% of hormone injections required with traditional IVF, and reduces the duration of treatment cycles to just three days, offering patients a more comfortable and less invasive experience. 💬 Dr Dina Radenkovic Turner, CEO and co-founder of Gameto which has developed the technology, said: “By overcoming the major challenges of conventional IVF, such as long treatment cycles, significant side effects, and the emotional and physical strain, Fertilo provides a potentially faster, safer, and more accessible solution for families. "This milestone marks a turning point in reproductive health and highlights the first application of iPSC technology in IVF and the immense potential of our technology.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eE-uwWbB #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #femtech #healthtech #genderhealthgap #research #innovation #healthequity #gynaecology #reproductivehealth #equalities #healthinequalities #women #medtech

🩸 AI-powered blood test first to spot earliest sign of breast cancer 🩸 A new screening method that combines laser analysis with a type of AI is the first of its kind to identify patients in the earliest stage of breast cancer, a study suggests. The fast, non-invasive technique reveals subtle changes in the bloodstream that occur during the initial phases of the disease, known as stage 1a, which are not detectable with existing tests. The researchers say their new method could improve early detection and monitoring of the disease and pave the way for a screening test for multiple forms of cancer. 💬 Dr Andy Downes, of the University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering, who led the study, said: “Most deaths from cancer occur following a late-stage diagnosis after symptoms become apparent, so a future screening test for multiple cancer types could find these at a stage where they can be far more easily treated. Early diagnosis is key to long-term survival, and we finally have the technology required. “We just need to apply it to other cancer types and build up a database, before this can be used as a multi-cancer test.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eehaaGeX #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #femtech #healthtech #genderhealthgap #research #innovation #healthequity #gynaecology #reproductivehealth #equalities #healthinequalities #women #medtech #breastcancer #ai #diagnostics

💡 New resource tool aims to advance women’s health research 💡 The US National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the Office Of Research On Women's Health have launched the Discover Women’s Health Resource which aims to close the gaps in women’s health research and care. The platform has been established to act as a hub for National Institutes of Health resources on women’s health and to help simplify the process of finding information for medical professionals and patients. Exploring topics such as menopause, PCOS and autoimmune diseases, the site also provides resources on funding opportunities, awarded research projects, recruiting and upcoming clinical trials, the latest literature published on NIH-funded research, and patient-friendly summaries of health topics. The site has been launched in response to the first-ever White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research that began in 2023. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eG2UNHn2 #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #femtech #healthtech #genderhealthgap #research #innovation #healthequity #gynaecology #reproductivehealth #equalities #healthinequalities #women #medtech #menopause #pcos

💰 Gender-lens fund receives €30 million investment from EIF 💰 The European Investment Fund (EIF) has invested €30 million in a venture capital fund, SISTAFUND, that supports startups led by women entrepreneurs and gender-balanced teams. Sistafund will be addressing the financial gap faced by female startup founders in Europe with a target of €100 million, according to the EIF, investing in companies where women hold at least 30% of the founder shares. The fund will focus on health tech, sustainability, frontier tech such as AI and deep tech, and inclusive fintech and insurtech. 💬 Clara Chappaz, secretary of state for artificial Intelligence and digital affairs, said: “Encouraging the presence of women entrepreneurs in tech has long been a priority for me. I enthusiastically welcome the European Investment Fund’s investment in the Sistafund. This initiative represents a concrete response to the persistent inequalities in access to financing, while women founders still account for only 2% of funds raised." 💬 Founder and managing partner of Sistafund Tatiana Jama, added: “The support of the European Investment Fund marks a major milestone in our journey. We are redefining venture capital by backing female founders and gender-balanced teams. We are unlocking the untapped potential of women entrepreneurs and setting a powerful example for future generations across Europe and beyond." Read more: https://lnkd.in/etuCetQ7 #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #femtech #healthtech #genderhealthgap #research #innovation #healthequity #gynaecology #reproductivehealth #equalities #healthinequalities #women #medtech #investment #funding #capital #fund #Europe

💼 Founder of the fertility clinic chain Kindbody, Gina Bartasi, has announced she is stepping down as CEO after six years in the role. Bartasi’s transition out of the role will take place over the next couple of months, according to Kindbody. The company has now created a new ‘office of the CEO’ which will include Kindbody president Gina Bruzzichesi, chief financial officer Scott Bruckner, and chief business officer Shilpa Patel who will take over management of company operations. Kindbody Board member Linda Mintz has been named Chairperson of the Board. 💬 The company stated: “Gina’s significant contributions to the fertility industry are widely known, having built Kindbody into a national network of fertility clinics and IVF labs, serving thousands of patients in their journey to become parents. “We are deeply grateful for her dedication and leadership these past six years and we wish her all the best. We thank Gina for her vision, leadership and unwavering dedication to our mission of accessible fertility care for all. We look forward to seeing where her journey takes her next.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/euBZSSbf

🚀 Six stories from the world of femtech this week 🚀 💰 A first-of-its-kind collaboration of multibillion-dollar funds is coming together to launch the Women's Health Access Matters Investment Collaborative designed to accelerate innovation and unlock opportunities within the women’s health market. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ek2nbeAj 🤱 Birmingham Women's Hospital is now home to the NHS’s first simulation suite dedicated to maternal and neonatal health, thanks to a £1 m donation from the George Davies Charitable Trust. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eP423dy7 🩻 A novel ultrasound technology is being used to accurately measure and monitor breast density, and in the process improve early detection rates and assess how at risk individual women might be from developing the disease. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e4eAfMtV 🧫 Women’s health biotech company, Gameto is entering into a partnership with Australian-based IVF clinic chain, IVFAustralia (IVFA) to bring its Fertilo offering to select clinics. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dBtDH4Kd ❤️🔥 Women’s health company Daré Bioscience, Inc. announced that data from a clinical study of an investigational topical cream formulation developed as an on-demand treatment for female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD), has shown positive results. Read more: https://lnkd.in/esc7Z6qk 💉 Lushi, a new women-led start-up, has launched to offer treatments, clinics, and wellness platforms in order to help transform the IVF and egg freezing experience for women. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d-YhAgGD Catch up on these and more at: www.femtechworld.co.uk #womenshealth #womenshealthmatters #femtech #healthtech #genderhealthgap #research #innovation #healthequity #gynaecology #reproductivehealth #equalities #healthinequalities #women #medtech #investment #funding #capital #diagnostics #menstrualhealth #hormonalhealth

This award, sponsored by SiS: Women's Health, celebrates innovative AI-driven solutions that address critical challenges in #femtech, such as personalised healthcare, reproductive health, mental wellness and overall quality of life. Find out more and enter for free here: https://lnkd.in/emubqQUN #AI #womenshealth