“My parents taught me to take risks, to have a go, to not fear
challenges, find solutions and [to] be a good human,” says Dr
Dharmica Mistry of her supportive family and loving childhood.
“As a young woman from an ethnic background in the outer
suburbs of Sydney, without any particular advantages in life,
I never really thought I would have the chance to truly make
a big difference in this world.” Yet, at just 31 years old, the
microbiologist is already well on her way, having developed a blood
test that could revolutionise the way breast cancer is detected.
W hile mammography remains an effective form of detection for
those 40 and older, younger women still rely on more primitive
means. “For more than two billion young women worldwide, their
hand is the only tool with which they can detect breast cancer,”
says Dr Mistry. “A blood test overcomes those limitations and
can be used for women of all ages, [which is crucial] because
the disease is very aggressive in younger women.”
In 2008, Dr Mistry was researching the association betweenbreast cancer and scalp hair. W hilst examining her own strands,
she noticed something unusual: her hair was showing similar
patterns to the samples from women with breast cancer. It wasn’t
until Dr Mistry’s supervisor quizzed her about what she had done
differently that the young scientist considered the olive oil she
applied as a hair mask every couple of months. This connection
led to the discovery that women with breast cancer have significant
alterations in the levels of phospholipids in their hair (results
mimicked by the olive oil) and that a blood test could be developed
to detect that difference. She then began her PhD to prove it.
W hat could be one of the biggest medical breakthroughs in
recent times, Dr Mistry says the value of her findings extend
beyond detection: “Breast cancer does not discriminate [and this
is] not just a screening test, it can actually be used to give clinicians
feedback on treatment, monitoring [and] recurrence, so that makes
it transformational.” Dr Mistry is now chief scientist at BCal
Diagnostics, and initial trials of the blood test are showing a
90 per cent rate of accuracy. “If we can apply this technolog y to
other cancers, I think that would be the bigger vision,” she says.
Words to live by: “If you think you can’t do it, just try any way,
have a go and [either] learn to do it or learn from it.”
Global domination: “My immediate focus is to get this up and
running as a blood test for women of all ages, worldwide. [That]
would be my dream.”
Being herself: “I’ve been able to transition from science
into industry—both heavily male-dominated—and stick
to my guns.” —SOPHIE GOULOPOULOSDR DH A R MICA
MISTRY
SCIENCE
“I WANT TO BREAK THE
STEREOTYPES AROUND
SCIENCE. GEEKS ARE CHIC!”