Dr. Sara Naseri: Menstrual blood as a diagnostic tool
Mar 7, 2024
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Dr. Sara Naseri discusses using menstrual blood as a diagnostic tool, her company Qvin's FDA-cleared blood test on menstrual pads. Adriel Bettelheim on women's health innovations. Importance of inclusive women's health research funding and redefining menstrual blood as valuable for healthcare.
Dr. Sara Naseri's Qvin reframes menstrual blood as a diagnostic tool, gaining FDA clearance for a new blood test.
Women's health research is underfunded globally despite innovative advancements like AI-enabled ultrasound machines and monthly contraceptive pills.
Deep dives
Innovations in Women's Health
Women's health companies are innovating to address challenges from postpartum health to menopause. Discussions center around closing the gender data gap in medicine and changing perceptions of menstrual blood as an information source, rather than a taboo. Various advancements like AI-enabled ultrasound machines and monthly contraceptive pills show promise, with a focus on increasing female representation in medical studies.
Challenges in Research Funding and Representation
Despite recent mainstream headlines on women's health, it remains underfunded and lacks sufficient research. Only a small portion of medical research spending targets female-specific conditions unrelated to cancer. Efforts by organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation aim to bridge the gender gap and leverage advancements in healthcare technologies for women's health.
Revolutionizing Women's Health Diagnostics
Dr. Sarah Nessary's innovative approach reframes menstrual blood as a diagnostic tool, leading to FDA clearance for a menstrual pad that tests various health markers like A1C, thyroid hormone, and inflammation markers. The product aims to offer convenient health monitoring options for women, with future trials planned for expanding diagnostic capabilities and enhancing women's health.
It's estimated only one percent of medical research spending globally goes toward female-specific conditions that aren't related to cancer. But even as underfunding of women's health persists -- companies focused on women's health are innovating. Dr. Sara Naseri is working to reframe menstrual blood as a diagnostic tool rather than waste, with her company called Qvin. It received FDA clearance in January of this yearfor a new kind of blood test: a diagnostic menstrual pad.
Plus, Axios senior health care editor Adriel Bettelheim on innovations in women's health.
Guests: Dr. Sara Naseri,CEO and co-founder of Qvin; Axios' Adriel Bettelheim
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