VeNCER PRO
Meet Jay Evans and Silja Voolma
Our team is dedicated to solving a critical problem that plagues Mexico ( and many parts of the world) and affects countless women - the lack of early detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in underserved communities where access to healthcare resources is limited. Through our mobile phone SMS solution, we aim to bridge this gap and empower women with the means to detect cervical cancer at an early stage, when it is most treatable. By leveraging the widespread usage of mobile phones in Mexico, we can deliver vital information, reminders, and educational content directly to women, encouraging regular screenings and follow-ups. This innovative approach has the potential to save lives, reduce the burden on healthcare systems, and empower women with knowledge and agency over their own health.
The Team
Jay Evans
Silja Voolma
About Us
Our team of digital health industry experts and public health researchers is an exceptional choice for participation in a startup incubator program. With our combined expertise and experience, we bring a unique blend of technical knowledge, industry insights, and a deep understanding of public health challenges. We possess the skills necessary to navigate the complex regulatory landscape, address potential barriers to adoption, and effectively communicate the value proposition of our intervention to key stakeholders.
Dr Silja-Riin Voolma is a Cambridge and St Andrews-educated health psychologist and applied behavioural scientist with over a decade of experience in digital health entrepreneurship. In addition to her entrepreneurial pursuits, Dr Voolma consults ministries of health, pharmaceutical companies, and digital therapeutic companies on applied behavioural science and participates in scientific public health research at the University of Tartu in Estonia. Dr Voolma's approach to solving complex public health challenges, such as the burden of cervical cancer, takes an interdisciplinary, human-centred, and theory-informed approach to deliver interventions that prioritise impact through human behaviour change.
Jay Evans has worked in global health and delivered digital health interventions at scale with organisations such as the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease and the American Cancer Society. He has also worked to deploy community-based mHealth programmes at scale together with governments in the Americas and South Asia. He is a Teaching Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and adjunct faculty with the NHS Digital Health Leadership Programme.
Problem
In Mexico, primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary (screening for cervical cancer) prevention measures for cervical cancer are well established. However, a gap seems to exist (likely around early screening and identification of cervical cancer, and patient education) since cervical cancer remains the second cause of death for Mexican women . This, too, reflects health inequities within the population. For example, although self-sampling for HPV was introduced in Mexico in 2009 as a way to reach the most marginalized women, a clear investment strategy for strengthening the logistical chain for transportation, analysis, and results reporting of those self-collected samples was not developed
In partnership with local clinics, hospitals and health posts, our aim is to help patients access, attend and follow up with cervical cancer screening and treatment using structured SMS .
Solution
Our team is dedicated to solving a critical problem that plagues Mexico and affects countless women - the lack of early detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in underserved communities where access to healthcare resources is limited. Through our mobile phone SMS solution, we aim to bridge this gap and empower women with the means to detect cervical cancer at an early stage, when it is most treatable. By leveraging the widespread usage of mobile phones in Mexico, we can deliver vital information, reminders, and educational content directly to women, encouraging regular screenings and follow-ups. This innovative approach has the potential to save lives, reduce the burden on healthcare systems, and empower women with knowledge and agency over their own health.
Through the use of SMS messaging the system will prompt patients, reminding them of: upcoming screening opportunities, needed follow ups after screening, and navigation to hospital services as needed. Should patients not appear for a scheduled appointment reminders will go to the patient as well as the health care practitioner coordinating care.
Market
Our customers are: public and private public health clinics, small/medium sized hospitals conducting cancer screening, cancer societies health care staff, and patients.
Although initially targeted for cancer care our solution is viable for any care pathway that involves screening, referral, treatment and follow up.
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