How do you believe the Q-Pad will revolutionize the landscape of women's health diagnostics moving forward? Qvin's Q-Pad is the first and only FDA-cleared diagnostic menstrual pad that is a convenient, no-needle alternative to traditional lab blood testing using period blood. That menstrual blood has been proven to be a valuable clinical resource, in itself, is revolutionary and an important step forward in our understanding of female biology and women’s health. In addition, given how traditional methods of blood testing require invasive procedures administered by medical professionals, which can be time-consuming and expensive, this could become a game changer in making healthcare more accessible and convenient. Not everyone has the time, access and financial means to get laboratory results for blood work; however, billions of people globally have their period every single month. And yet, menstrual samples had never previously been explored as a diagnostic source for health information. Removing these barriers to care can lead to better and more accurate diagnoses and health management. The Q-Pad allows women to leverage their natural period for regular insights about their bodies, to enable early detection and to be truly preventative. The Q-Pad is a tool to empower women and help them advocate for themselves, going into doctor’s appointments more informed with a routine, preventative health screening. Not only does the Q-Pad provide women with an easy, non-invasive way to track their health, but by utilizing menstrual blood that billions of people throw away monthly, Qvin will help close the medical gender data gap. Qvin believes menstrual blood is a superpower for women and for women's health research.
What challenges did you face bringing this innovative product to market, especially navigating the stigma around menstruation? The biggest roadblock in the early days was proving the clinical relevance of menstrual blood and moving past the stigma. We worked closely with institutions like Stanford University Hospital to publish our research findings which, in many instances, has helped change the conversation from menstrual blood being a stigma to a massive opportunity in women’s health. At Qvin, we will continue this research to scientifically prove women can get access to additional biomarkers using their period.
How do you envision the Q-Pad being integrated into everyday healthcare routines, and what impact do you hope it will have on women’s health equity globally? One of the biggest opportunities we see with Qvin and our Q-Pad technology is granting access to non-invasive and convenient testing to millions of people in the U.S. and around the world who do not have immediate access to a healthcare provider. In the future, I can see a time where a Q-Pad is recommended by a gynecologist to patients, especially those at higher risk for preventable disease like cervical cancer. While the Q-Pad was initially created to identify biomarkers for HPV, [its uses] have expanded and identified additional biomarkers to test for, including diabetes, anemia, fertility, perimenopause, endometriosis and thyroid health. We have also validated concordance between venous blood and menstrual blood in research for cholesterol and lipids. We have a roadmap of biomarkers that we will be validating.
How do you find flow within your everyday life? For me, going for a run is one of the most powerful ways to clear my head. And, occasionally, given I am from Denmark, I also do enjoy a cold plunge to reset the system and regain some power and energy. Outside of these activities, I will say it has been, and continues to be, a joy to work on something that I find so meaningful, especially alongside the incredible Qvin team. | 
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