WoW Woman in BioTech and FemTech I Oriana Papin-Zoghbi, co-founder and CEO of AOA Dx

Oriana Papin-Zoghbi is the CEO and Co-Founder of AOA Dx, a biotech company focused on early-stage ovarian cancer detection.  She has a proven record of creating market entry strategies and product launches in new markets, including launching nationwide HPV screening in East Africa and novel diagnostics in maternal-fetal medicine. Oriana has received numerous awards in entrepreneurship, including the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center MassNextGen Award and The Wave Summit's Emerging Women Founder in Bio Award.

AOA Dx Inc is a Y Combinator and VC-backed biotech company focused on early-stage cancer detection. AOA partnered with a leading oncology researcher at McGill University to develop the first early-stage ovarian cancer liquid biopsy diagnostic test. The co-founders have worked together for the last decade at two previous startups in the women’s health space, both resulting in successful exits upon commercialization. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynaecological disease because there is no accurate testing method and its symptoms are continuously mistaken for benign conditions, making it incredibly difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stages. Early diagnosis will reduce patient mortality and deliver cost savings to payers.

Oriana, tell us a bit about your background and your projects so far.

I have spent my entire career working with women’s health startups and life science companies. I have a passion for entrepreneurship and solving problems that disproportionately affect women. In 2019, together with my other two co-founders, I launched my new company AOA Dx, a Y Combinator and VC-backed biotech company focused on early-stage ovarian cancer detection.

How did you get into this industry? Has it been an easy industry to get into or have you had many challenges?

I began working with women’s health right out of college and continued to pursue a career in this field ever since. I stumbled into Women’s Health at an early stage company focused on developing novel diagnostics tests and learnt about the challenges that come with introducing novel clinical methods, particularly in Obstetrics and Gynecology. FemTech and Women’s Health overall right now have started to garner a lot of attention, making it easier to get into the space. I have found that people working in this space are inviting and open to new innovative ideas and have met so many inspiring individuals throughout my career. I love this space and couldn’t imagine working with anything else right now.

How long did it take you to be where you are now? What was the biggest obstacle? What are the challenges of being in the industry you are in?

It’s taken me 10 years to get to where I am today. The biggest challenge I believe has been the lack of funding in the space but during the last couple of years, this has really started to change. It’s been a rewarding experience running my own women's health startup and seeing positive change happen throughout the industry.

What are your biggest achievements to date?

Getting into Y Combinator with my team and raising an oversubscribed seed round for AOA Dx. We are so proud of our accomplishments and know that every step means we are this much closer to creating a better future for women battling ovarian cancer.

What are the projects you are currently working on?

My company, AOA Dx, has partnered with a leading oncology researcher at McGill University to develop the first early-stage ovarian cancer liquid biopsy diagnostic test. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynaecological disease because there is no accurate testing method and its symptoms are continuously mistaken for benign conditions, making it incredibly difficult to diagnose the disease in the early stages. Early diagnosis will reduce patient mortality and deliver cost savings to payers.

Is the #WomenInTech movement important to you and if yes, why?

Absolutely. I am so proud to not only be an entrepreneur but to be a female entrepreneur dedicated to improving women’s health. It is time for women to get the funding and attention they deserve to make important and informed decisions about their health.

What will be the key trends in your industry in the next five years and where do you see them heading?

I believe the stronger our voices get, the more funding we will see allocated towards women’s health. This will give women’s health tech startups the power they need to show how important their technology is and encourage other entrepreneurs to get into the field.

What is the most important piece of advice you could give to anyone who wants to start a career in this industry?

Be confident and be bold. Regardless of what industry you work for, nothing ever goes as planned but the attitude you have will take you a long way. My team and I are so confident about our expertise in women’s health tech and have that as our backbone to get over the hurdles and continue to work towards our goals.

Who are three inspirational women in your respective industry you admire?

Surbhi Sarna (who I am so grateful for to have as a new independent board member),Carolyn Witte, and Afton Vechery.

Find out more about AOA Dx on their website.

Follow AOA Dx on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Follow Oriana on LinkedIn.

This interview was conducted by Marija Butkovic, Digital Marketing and PR strategist, founder, and CEO of Women of Wearables. She regularly writes and speaks on topics of wearable tech, fashion tech, IoT, entrepreneurship, and diversity. Follow Marija on Twitter @MarijaButkovic and read her stories for Forbes here.