A senior scientist at BCAL Diagnostics, Dr. Dharmica Mistry found that oils from the blood of breast cancer patients was being deposited in their hair and that a simple blood test could screen for the disease.
Although the test is not yet on the market, preliminary results show a promising 90 per cent cancer detection rate.
Having been working in Australia’s biotechnology industry since 2007, she was announced as Young Executive of the year 2016 in Australia by the Australian Financial Review Boss Magazine.
She was also the recipient of the ‘NSW Young Woman of the Year’ award.
A blood test would not only improve the role of existing screening methods like mammograms, but also revolutionise the way young women and women living in rural areas access breast cancer testing.
Current tests for breast cancer are "invasive" she says, with her breakthrough changing the experience for both the patient and the doctor.
"Because as I mentioned before, it is invasive to find, all these tests that you need to do to find out whether you have cancer, they hurt and you have so many people poking and prodding at you and if you could just make it easier," says Dr Mistry.
"People put off going to the doctors cause they don't want to have a mammogram, they know that its painful and if you just knew that there was a simple blood test, I think a lot more people will get checked out."
Dharmica Mistry Source: Supplied
Dr Mistry is hoping to start clinical trials next year and to have a test on the market as soon as 2019.
"My dream is to just have this out there for every woman everywhere, around the world.
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