Interview with Paula Cerqueira, VP of Scientific Strategy
Proseek Bio is advancing a new approach to women’s health diagnostics by translating cutting-edge glycoproteomics into clinically deployable tools. In this interview, Michelle Hill, CEO of Proseek Bio, discusses the company’s focus on ovarian cancer pre-surgical triage, the unmet clinical needs driving its platform, and how participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI JPM shaped investor conversations as the company prepares for global expansion.
Caitlin Dolegowski (CD): For those unfamiliar with Proseek Bio, how do you describe the company and its core technology or therapeutic focus?
Michelle Hill (MH): Proseek Bio is an Australian diagnostics company focused on women’s health, developing blood-based tests designed to improve how complex conditions are assessed and managed in clinical practice. Ovarian cancer is our first indication, with an initial focus on pre-surgical triage.
Our platform is built on advanced glycoproteomics, integrating multiple protein biomarkers into a single algorithmic score to support clinical decision-making. Rather than relying on any one marker, this multi-analyte approach reflects the biological complexity of disease and enables more informative risk assessment at critical clinical decision points.
What differentiates Proseek Bio is our strong translational focus. The underlying science has been validated through years of academic and clinical research, and we are now converting that work into regulated, scalable diagnostic products for real-world healthcare systems. By targeting earlier decision points such as triage, we aim to support more appropriate referral and intervention, with a longer-term goal of expanding our platform across additional women’s health indications.
CD: What unmet need are you addressing, and why is now the right time for your approach?
MH: A key unmet need in women’s health diagnostics is the lack of objective tools that reflect real-time disease biology at early clinical decision points. In ovarian cancer pre-surgical triage, clinicians must assess risk using tests with limited biological resolution, which can lead to unnecessary intervention or delayed specialist referral.
Proseek Bio addresses this gap through glycoproteomics, focusing on the glycans attached to proteins that regulate how those proteins function. While genes indicate what could happen and proteins act as messengers, glycan patterns reveal what disease is actively doing in the body. These modifications change early in cancer and cannot be resolved by genomics or standard immunoassays. By integrating glycan and protein signals into a multi-biomarker signature, our tests aim to deliver more informative risk stratification.
The timing is right because advances in clinical mass spectrometry and data analytics have made this biology clinically scalable, enabling integration into existing laboratory workflows and routine care.
CD: What was your experience participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI JPM?
MH: Our first time participating in the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI JPM was an energising experience. Pitching to a room filled with sophisticated investors and peers reinforced the importance of clear, disciplined storytelling when presenting complex diagnostic technologies.
As part of the Brisbane Economic Development Agency cohort, we were proud to represent Brisbane’s growing life sciences ecosystem. Beyond the pitch, the table showcase led to thoughtful conversations with investors and fellow founders who were genuinely engaged with both the clinical problem and our translational approach.
Overall, the experience was validating and motivating. It confirmed that our focus on clinically deployable diagnostics in women’s health resonates with a global audience, and it was rewarding to see that reflected in the recognition we received.
CD: Out of 94 Innovator’s Pitch Challenge companies, what do you think helped Proseek Bio stand out to judges and attendees?
MH: Women’s health remains significantly underrepresented in diagnostic innovation, and that focus clearly resonated with judges and attendees. Ovarian cancer, in particular, represents a high-impact unmet need, especially at early clinical decision points such as pre-surgical triage.
Proseek Bio was the only diagnostics company on the podium, reflecting the distinctiveness of our approach. By applying glycoproteomics to analyse glycan and protein signatures together, we deliver a more biologically informative assessment of disease activity while remaining compatible with existing clinical laboratory workflows.
Importantly, we were able to clearly articulate not just the science, but the pathway to a regulated, scalable diagnostic product. That combination of unmet clinical need, novel biology, and disciplined execution helped differentiate Proseek Bio in a very strong field.
CD: How did RESI JPM impact discussions with investors, partners, or potential collaborators?
MH: Being recognised on the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge podium gave investors immediate confidence in both the opportunity and the discipline behind the company, and it strengthened engagement with potential partners. Overall, RESI JPM acted as a signal amplifier, reinforcing Proseek Bio’s readiness for global investment and collaboration while accelerating meaningful follow-on conversations.
CD: Where does Proseek Bio currently stand in terms of fundraising, partnerships, or development milestones?
MH: Proseek Bio is currently completing its Seed round to support development of our first product, OC-Triage. This funding is enabling a clinical study, implementation of a quality management system, and ISO accreditation to support pilot manufacturing, alongside evaluation of OC-Triage with Australian clinical laboratory partners.
In parallel, we are preparing for a Series A focused on U.S. market entry. RESI JPM provided an important opportunity to initiate discussions with U.S.-based clinical and laboratory partners, laying the groundwork for future validation and commercial pathways.
Together, these milestones reflect a transition from technology validation to execution as Proseek Bio advances toward regulated, clinically deployable diagnostics in women’s health.
CD: What upcoming achievements or milestones are you most excited to share with the life sciences community?
MH: Over the coming year, we are focused on completing the OC-Triage product and establishing pilot manufacturing under an ISO-accredited quality system. These milestones represent an important transition from development to regulated production readiness.
In parallel, we are advancing clinical evaluation with laboratory partners, which will be critical in demonstrating real-world performance and scalability. Together, these steps mark a shift from innovation to execution.
What excites us most is seeing years of science translate into something tangible: a product that can be manufactured, validated, and ultimately used to support better clinical decisions for women.
Interested in pitching your company to a highly engaged investor audience focused on early-stage life science innovation? Applications are now open for the Innovator’s Pitch Challenge at RESI Europe. Selected companies receive direct feedback from a dedicated group of investors, access to 1:1 partnering, and visibility with global industry leaders.
Apply to pitch and position your company for meaningful investor conversations.
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Michelle Hill
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