Today, the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in collaboration with CAMILLA AND MARC have announced a revolutionary medical advancement through their 'Ovaries. Talk About Them.' initiative.
Now in its fourth year, the 'Ovaries. Talk About Them.' campaign, spearheaded by CAMILLA AND MARC founders and designers Camilla Freeman-Topper and Marc Freeman, has emerged as a leading philanthropic initiative within the Australian fashion industry. And this year's drop comes paired with a breakthrough announcement.
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What is the breakthrough?
This global first introduces a unique 3-target DNA biomarker signature capable of detecting all types of early-stage ovarian cancer. This remarkable development marks a significant stride toward an early detection blood tests entering clinical trials by 2026.
Dr. Kristina Wharton, head researcher at UNSW's Gynaecological Cancer Research Group (GCRG), highlighted the life-saving potential of this breakthrough. “An early detection test has the scope to improve outcomes and save lives for people with ovarian cancer all over the world,” she said.
“Our goal is to make this test successful through a simple blood draw and a PCR reaction, without the need for specialised imaging equipment or invasive medical procedures. 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.”
What is the 'Ovaries. Talk About Them.' campaign?
'Ovaries. Talk About Them.' is a movement initiated by CAMILLA AND MARC to make an early detection test a reality for ovarian cancer in the next two years. Ovarian Cancer is the deadliest female cancer, yet still there is no test.
Over 310,000 women are diagnosed worldwide each year, with over 75% diagnosed in the late stages when it is often too late.
In just four years, CAMILLA AND MARC's campaigning has generated an incredible $1.7 million, 100 per cent of which has gone directly towards the work of Professor Caroline Ford, Dr Kristina Warton and the team of scientists and researchers at the UNSW Gynaecological Cancer Research Group.
The campaign's impact is deeply personal for the design duo, who lost their own Mum to the disease. “The breakthroughs that have been made with the early detection test have been nothing short of extraordinary. We feel immense pride towards the team at UNSW for their tireless efforts, as well as everyone who has continually supported our campaign,” Freeman-Topper expressed.
“Without this funding, we would not have reached this significant milestone. None of us would be here without ovaries, and this disease has been silenced for too long. Millions continue to be affected every year, yet there is still no test. It is not good enough. My mother deserved better. We all deserve better.”
What comes next?
As the campaign moves into its next phase, rigorous testing will continue to assess the effectiveness of this groundbreaking test on patients with small or early-stage ovarian tumours.
CAMILLA AND MARC have said they will maintain their efforts to raise awareness, advocate for the cause, and generate funding to support the ongoing research led by Professor Caroline Ford, Dr. Kristina Wharton, and the UNSW GCRG team, with the goal of achieving clinical trials by 2026.
