Surbhi Sarna, an entrepreneur of Indian descent, turned her experiences with ovarian cysts during adolescence into a drive for medical advancement. As a young patient, she encountered shortcomings in early ovarian cancer detection methods, which were frequently invasive and posed risks to reproductive organs. This inspired her to establish nVision Medical, a company dedicated to improving early identification of this deadly disease affecting women. The startup achieved a valuation of $275 million, providing fresh possibilities in combating ovarian cancer.
In her teens, Sarna managed persistent ovarian cysts, a condition that can obscure signs of more severe illnesses like ovarian cancer. She witnessed the challenges patients endure due to inadequate diagnostic options. At that period, spotting ovarian cancer early was challenging because symptoms tend to be nonspecific, and available tests lacked accuracy. Many women receive diagnoses only in later stages, reducing treatment success and survival chances.
This realization motivated Sarna to devise a diagnostic tool that identifies cancer sooner and more precisely while preserving fertility. She studied molecular biology at the University of California, Berkeley, acquiring knowledge in cell functions, disease processes, and diagnostic constraints. Research during her studies indicated that numerous ovarian cancers might start in the fallopian tubes instead of the ovaries, an idea that influenced her future efforts.
In 2012, Sarna enrolled in Draper University, a program aimed at transforming concepts into viable businesses. It offered guidance, investor connections, and a supportive startup network. There, she honed her idea into a practical enterprise and started developing her product, linking scientific discoveries with practical use.
At nVision Medical, Sarna created a fiber-optic instrument for minimally invasive access to the fallopian tubes. This represented a departure from conventional methods, such as imaging or major surgeries, which often fail to identify early cancers reliably. The tool enables physicians to gather cell samples directly from the fallopian tubes, thought to be the origin of many ovarian cancers. Targeting this region enhances the likelihood of finding issues early, when interventions are most successful.
The instrument obtained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, verifying its safety and efficacy. This achievement facilitated its adoption in medical practices and boosted its standing in healthcare circles.
In 2018, Boston Scientific acquired nVision Medical in a transaction worth up to $275 million. The deal highlighted the technology’s promise in fulfilling a key need in women’s health services. It also enabled broader distribution, benefiting more individuals and medical professionals worldwide.
Ovarian cancer is notoriously hard to diagnose early, with understated symptoms and no reliable widespread screening. Globally, about 200,000 women succumb to it annually. Timely detection greatly enhances survival, underscoring the value of advancements like Sarna’s. Her method, emphasizing the fallopian tubes, matches current scientific insights and paves the way for better early detection.
Sarna’s story illustrates how individual challenges can spark significant progress. Instead of tolerating the diagnostic flaws she faced, she tackled them via scientific and business initiatives.
