Ovarian Cancer is One of the Leading Causes of Cancer Deaths among Women in the United States
Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in the United States. Approximately 1.1% of women are at risk of getting diagnosed with ovarian cancer at some point during their lifetime, and survival rates are much lower. However, diagnostic tools for risk assessment might significantly improve the overall survival rate of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer due to advancements in therapeutics.
Aspira Women’s Health Inc. is Dedicated to the Discovery, Development, and Commercialization of Noninvasive, AI-Powered Tests
Aspira Women’s Health Inc. is dedicated to the discovery, development, and commercialization of noninvasive, AI-powered tests to aid in the diagnosis of gynecologic diseases. The organization is steered by Nicole Sandford, a passionate leader who translates a personal commitment to the company’s vision.
Nicole Sandford’s Background and Experience
Nicole Sandford was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Aspira Women’s Health in February 2022 after serving as a member of the company’s Board since February 2021. Backed by more than three decades of executive and leadership experience, Nicole has been driving Aspira to new heights of success.
The Personal Connection
Starting her career in professional services, Nicole has served multiple advisory positions in leading companies. She has extensive experience with complex transactions including mergers and acquisitions, financing, and both private and public securities offerings. However, Aspira’s mission struck a chord with Nicole personally.
Nicole is a breast cancer survivor, the granddaughter of an ovarian cancer victim, and the mother of two daughters who are likely at risk for the disease. Recognizing Aspira’s potential to change outcomes for the 20,000+ women in the U.S. who will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, not to mention the million or more who will find out that they have a mass on or near their ovaries, she invested in the stock and was later invited to join the board. Nicole became the CEO in 2022.
“Our central mission is to help women and their healthcare providers to make health decisions based on facts instead of fear.”
The Breakthrough
Aspira has pioneered non-invasive, AI-powered tests to aid in the detection of gynecologic diseases, starting with ovarian cancer and developing tests for endometriosis. The tests provide data to help find disease sooner while reducing premature or unnecessary surgical intervention and surgical menopause for healthy pre-menopausal women.
OvaSuite is the only comprehensive portfolio of blood tests designed to assess the risk of ovarian malignancy in a woman with an adnexal mass. The tests measure the levels of various biomarkers in the blood and then use an advanced algorithm to calculate a personalized risk score. OvaSuite comprises of OvaWatch and Ova1Plus.
OvaWatch is used where initial clinical assessment indicates the mass is indeterminate or benign, and thus surgery may be premature or unnecessary. It has a very high negative predictive value – over 99% – which can increase a provider’s confidence in a non-surgical, clinical management approach.
When a clinician has decided that a mass should be removed, Ova1Plus determines the risk of malignancy. It is a proprietary workflow that uses two FDA-cleared tests to provide a personalized risk of malignancy score for the patient prior to surgery.
Aspira further sees tremendous potential to enhance its ovarian cancer tests with additional biomarkers. They are working closely with Dana Farber Cancer Institute to develop OvaMDx, their next-generation blood test that combines proteins, miRNA, and clinical factors to help identify earlier-stage disease. Moreover, Aspira has recently announced the completion of EndoCheck, the first-ever protein test that effectively identified endometrioma, one of the most common forms of endometriosis.
Challenging the Status Quo
Aspira is truly paving the way for biomarker testing for gynecologic diseases. They are challenging protocols that have been relatively unchanged for decades and at the helm is the visionary woman, Nicole Sandford.
“I stay focused on our mission. When I hear a story about a woman who died because of an ovarian cancer surgery that went wrong, or one who had their healthy ovaries removed out of fear, it gives me the strength to go on fighting. It keeps all of us at Aspira focused.”
Embracing Proactive Leadership
Nicole understands the need for technology adoption in business to gain a competitive edge in the market. She surrounds herself with the smartest people, collaborates with leading thinkers and world-class academic and research institutions to make a huge difference.
Nicole encourages people to collaborate. She encourages people to share both the successes and challenges. There is an old saying, “Don’t come to me with problems, come to me with solutions.” She is the leader who always puts her team first. The best leaders are those who encourage people to be honest and open, to ask for help when it is needed. She not only prioritizes her team but also believes that Aspira’s competitive advantage lies in the passion and dedication of its diverse team.
Leaving a Mark in the Industry
Walking through life, Nicole doesn’t like to lock herself into a specific path. She’s a big believer in keeping her mind open to new possibilities. Her business is purposed to solve a problem and leave a mark on others.
Our central mission is to help women and their healthcare providers to make health decisions based on facts instead of fear.
