MEET THE RESEARCH TEAM
The brilliant minds forging a path towards making an early detection test for ovarian cancer a reality.
THE UNSW GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCER RESEARCH GROUP
Since the beginning, the Ovaries. Talk About Them. campaign has been driven by a bold and history-making mission: to develop the world’s first DNA-based early detection test for ovarian cancer. Every single cent raised goes directly to medical research including to making this test a reality. We have partnered with Professor Caroline Ford, Dr Kristina Warton and a brilliant team of female-led scientists and researchers at the UNSW Gynaecological Research Group who are leading the development of the world’s first DNA-based early detection test for ovarian cancer. The aim is to get this groundbreaking test to clinical trials in the next year, with the funding from Ovaries. Talk About Them.
This pioneering science and global first in the study of circulating tumour DNA in blood plasma for early detection of ovarian cancer is world-leading research. This remains the only partnership in the world to dedicate time, funding and resources to this particular science for ovarian cancer. If successful, the early detection test will be readily available at your regular GP. This will be groundbreaking for women’s health and save the lives of millions of women worldwide. 100% of proceeds from the sale of the limited-edition Ovaries. Talk About Them. collection goes to medical research, including to making the world’s first DNA-based early-detection test a reality. In just five years, your generous support has helped us raise over $2.5 million. That funding has provided this world-leading team with the tools they need to make significant global advancements in early detection, including essential equipment such as a Quantitative PCR Machine, Freezers for blood bio-banking, Qubit Machine and Liquid Handling Robot — and has supported a groundbreaking milestone achieved in 2024: the identification of three highly specific tumour DNA biomarkers, bringing us one step closer to clinical trials and a life-saving test for ovarian cancer.
Now, in 2025, these biomarkers are being combined by a process called multiplexing, which takes the strongest signal from each of the three biomarkers and merges them into one test, to ensure the most specific and sensitive measurement in a single blood test that can detect ovarian cancer early. This marks the final step before testing blood samples from patients with ovarian cancer, which will pave the way for clinical trials.We all come from ovaries, or we have ovaries, we wouldn't exist without them. So, let's get comfortable talking about them. Buy a t-shirt. Make a donation. Join the conversation.
Together, we can change history.
WATCH THE EXTRAORDINARY MISSION OF OVARIES. TALK ABOUT THEM
We are now on the home stretch and are confident in our selection of ovarian cancer biomarkers and are working hard to combine them in the best way to ensure that our test is as specific and as sensitive as possible. We are optimistic that at the end of this process (multiplexing) that we will have a test that is both sensitive in specifically detecting tiny amounts of tumour DNA.
- PROFESSOR CAROLINE FORD, UNSW GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCER RESEARCH GROUP
PROFESSOR CAROLINE FORD
Meet Professor Caroline Ford at the UNSW Gynaecological Cancer Research Group. Discover her message on the importance of raising awareness for ovarian cancer and the collective effort needed to alter the course of this disease.
"We’re on the verge of a scientific breakthrough that could fundamentally change outcomes for people with ovarian cancer around the world. Early detection is the missing piece—and we’re closer than ever to delivering it."
- PROFESSOR CAROLINE FORD, UNSW GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCER RESEARCH GROUP
DR KRISTINA WARTON
Meet Dr Kristina Warton who leads the early detection project at the UNSW Gynaecological Cancer Research Group. Her tireless work to develop a world first DNA based early detection test for the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer is leading the way.
“Working as part of an all-female team of researchers has made us think more broadly about how the test will be used in the real world. We’ve had such an awareness of the way female physiology works as we were going through the various stages of developing this test. We've checked the impact of periods, of endometriosis, of menopause to try to eliminate the possibility that any of these very common female life experiences will make the test work less well. It’s been quite startling along the way how little research there is overall in these areas.”
- DR KRISTINA WARTON, UNSW GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCER RESEARCH GROUP
"Early diagnosis, before the tumour has spread, is the most accessible and equitable path to health care for people at risk of ovarian cancer and will have life-changing impacts for people diagnosed with this disease.”
- DR KRISTINA WARTON, UNSW GYNAECOLOGICAL CANCER RESEARCH GROUP
DONATE TO OUR GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH TODAY
Without the unwavering loyalty and support of the CAMILLA AND MARC community, we wouldn’t be where we are today. 100% of proceeds go directly towards medical research and getting the world’s first DNA based early detection test to clinical trials in the next year. Together Professor Caroline Ford and Dr Kristina Warton along with the team of researchers and scientists at the UNSW Gynaecological Cancer Research Group are working tirelessly to make this test a reality. Join the conversation. Buy a t-shirt. Make a donation and help make this life changing early detection test a reality.
