Lead Researcher:
Dr. Lucy Gilbert
Ovarian and endometrial cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related death in Canada. Most cases are caught too late, when the disease is already advanced and survival rates are tragically low. Dr. Lucy Gilbert and her international team have spent over a decade building a better answer.
DOvEEgene is a non-invasive genomic test using a simple uterine swab and saliva sample to detect ovarian and endometrial cancers before symptoms appear -- at their earliest, most curable stages. It also identifies women at hereditary risk for five cancers: breast, ovarian, endometrial, colorectal, and pancreatic.
Invented in 2015, the test has successfully completed Phase I, II, and III clinical trials. The Phase III trial recruited 5,000 participants -- surpassing its target of 3,700 -- through sheer public demand. Results confirm what was once considered impossible: early detection of the most aggressive subtypes is achievable.
The next step is bringing DOvEEgene from research servers to secure clinical infrastructure, making it available to women everywhere. The Sampalis Foundation is proud to support this transition.
