Endometrics secures $600k NIH first prize, pushing total challenge funding to $950k
Endometrics has been named the first-place winner of an National Institutes of Health (NIH) competition focused on endometriosis diagnostics, securing a $600,000 prize and bringing its total funding from the year-long competition to $950,000.
The RADx Tech ACT ENDO Challenge, led by the NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), is a national competition designed to accelerate the development of new diagnostic technologies for endometriosis.
The San Francisco-based molecular diagnostics company was recognised for its work developing a clinically graded, non-invasive diagnostic test for endometriosis using menstrual blood collected at home.
Endometrics received the top prize in the final phase of the multi-stage programme, which supports innovation in non-invasive approaches to diagnosing the disease.
During the year-long challenge, the company worked with experts from across the NIH innovation ecosystem, gaining support in areas including diagnostics development, regulatory strategy, manufacturing, and commercialisation.
Pete Celano, assigned team lead for the RADx Tech ACT ENDO Challenge, said Endometrics distinguished itself both scientifically and operationally.
“Endometriosis remains one of the most challenging diseases to diagnose in women’s health, and new approaches are urgently needed. Endometrics stood out for its innovative use of menstrual blood to detect molecular signals associated with the disease,” he said.
He added that the strength of the team was also a key factor:
“Their rigor, clarity of vision, and determination were evident throughout the RADx Tech ACT ENDO program. It’s a truly exceptional team tackling an important clinical challenge.”
Using menstrual blood to diagnose endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic disease affecting more than 10% of women worldwide. Diagnosis often takes eight to ten years, and the current gold standard remains laparoscopic surgery performed under general anaesthesia.
Endometrics’ platform analyses proprietary biomarkers in menstrual blood, positioning it as a potential alternative to existing diagnostic pathways.
Dr Yana Aznavour, CEO and founder of Endometrics, said the award marked a significant milestone for the company.
“Completing the RADx ACT ENDO program and being named a 1st Prize winner is a tremendous honor for our team at Endometrics. Over the past year, we worked alongside an exceptional team of experts dedicated to advancing endometriosis diagnosis,” she said.
“This recognition affirms the strength of the science behind our menstrual blood–based diagnostic platform and reinforces our belief that a new approach to diagnosing this disease is both possible and urgently needed.”
Aznavour, a former gynecologic surgeon, added that her clinical experience shaped the company’s mission.
“Before becoming a founder, I worked as a gynecologic surgeon and operated on countless patients with endometriosis. I saw firsthand how profoundly this disease affects women’s bodies and their lives,” she said.
“Those experiences shaped our mission at Endometrics – to ensure women get clear answers much earlier, finally receive the clarity, support, and care they have always deserved.”
The announcement comes during Endometriosis Awareness Month, which Aznavour said made the recognition particularly meaningful for the team and the patients they aim to serve.
Separately, Endometrics was also recently named the winner of the Most Promising Company Competition at the Precision Medicine World Conference, highlighting growing recognition of molecular approaches to women’s health diagnostics.
Endometrics is developing a broader clinical intelligence platform using menstrual blood as an “organ-proximal liquid biopsy”, integrating biomarker discovery, bioinformatics, and at-home sampling to support diagnostics for gynecologic diseases.
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