As we reflect on 2024, we celebrate a year of global milestones, impactful partnerships, and advancements in accessible cancer detection technology. Together with our partners, we’ve
worked tirelessly to ensure early cancer detection is a right, not a privilege.
Key Milestones and Events in 2024
August
World Economic Forum: Empowering Vulnerable Communities Award
UE LifeSciences was recognized as one of 14 winners of the prestigious Empowering Vulnerable Communities Challenge, selected from 162 global entries. Initiated by the World Economic Forum, this award honors organizations creating innovative, scalable solutions for healthcare, nutrition, and safe water services to support at-risk populations in underserved regions. The challenge, funded by the IKEA Foundation and supported by 12 global partners, reinforces the importance of resilience-focused solutions in vulnerable communities.
September
Mihir Shah Speaks at SDIM 2024: Investing in Entrepreneurs in Frontier Markets panel
Mihir Shah, CEO of UE LifeSciences, participated in the Investing in Entrepreneurs in Frontier Markets panel at SDIM 2024, organized by the World Economic Forum at TIME. Moderated by Mirek Dušek, Managing Director of the WEF, the panel explored how to support innovation in fragile markets (economic environments characterized by instability, limited infrastructure, and systemic challenges that hinder growth and development).
Shah shared how personal experiences of family members struggling with limited access to cancer screening fuels his mission to innovate for underserved communities. He highlighted UE LifeSciences’ per-screen cost model, enabling governments to deploy breast screening devices and train health workers at an affordable cost, and how this approach is expanding from public (B2G) to private (B2B) partnerships.
Swasth Mahila, Swasth Goa: 100,000 Screenings Milestone
In collaboration with the Yuvraj Singh Foundation (YouWeCan), we achieved 100,000 screenings in Goa, creating a global example of scalable and accessible early cancer detection programs. The initiative’s success was highlighted during a visit by MSD #RTCFellows, who praised iBreastExam for its ability to address stigma and logistical challenges in women’s health.
Times of India Screening Camp
Expanding our efforts into the B2B market, wepartnered with the Times of India to conduct a corporate screening camp, resulting in 151 screenings over two days. This initiative identified eight suspected cases, underscoring the critical need for regular screeningprograms in corporate settings and demonstrating how early detection saves lives.
World Cancer Congress (WCC) 2024
At the World Cancer Congress in Geneva, the UELS team held a booth and participated in a session titled "Navigating Early Detection Disparities: A Hope for Women Everywhere", chaired by Dr. Ari Brooks. The discussion highlighted the barriers women face in accessing timely breast cancer screening and how innovations can drive change.
- Malaysia’s Perspective: Dr. Murallitharan Munisamy revealed that 53% of women ofscreening age have never had a mammogram or clinical breast exam due to fear,
logistical challenges, and cultural barriers. This statistic underscore the
urgency for accessible, community-based solutions. - India’s Experience: Jyoti Patel from Tata Memorial Hospital emphasized how accessibletools like iBreastExam have transformed population screening efforts, enabling healthcare providers to reach more women effectively and ensure no one is left behind.
Mihir Shah reaffirmed UE LifeSciences' mission to collaborate with global stakeholders in advancing equitable healthcare and delivering transformative, life-saving technologies to underserved communities worldwide
Rewriting Cancer: A Global Spotlight
UE LifeSciences was featured in BBCStoryWorks’ "Rewriting Cancer" series, in partnership with UICC. The film showcased the story of Asha,a breast cancer survivor diagnosed early during the Swasth Mahila, Swasth Goa Project, and how early detection changed her life.
The episode also highlighted the role of health workers using iBreastExam in underserved communities, demonstrating the transformative impact of technology in making cancer care more equitable.
October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Empower Ball: Amplifying Advocacy for Women’s Health
VP Smita Asrani contributed to the Tigerlily Foundation’s emPOWER Ball, an event dedicated to advancing breast healthequity and empowering women. Tigerlily Foundation focuses on supporting women of color through education, advocacy, and outreach. The event highlighted actionable steps for advancing early cancer detection and equitable healthcare globally, with Smita driving conversations around awareness and access.
Roche Press Day: Innovating for Equity in Latin America
Key insights from the session included:
- Addressing underserved groups,including women under 40 and those with dense breast tissue, who are often missed by traditional mammography.
- Innovative funding models: Shah emphasized the importance of a per-screening cost structure tomake early detection affordable and scalable. This model empowers governments
and organizations to adopt solutions that deliver measurable impact without
financial barriers.
November
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Dr. Ari Brooks presented iBreastExam to Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, sparking discussions on integrating accessible breast cancer screening into the country’s healthcare framework.
Looking Ahead
In 2024, we’ve
- Screened 2 million+ women across 12 countries
- Conducted 110,000 scans under the Swasth Mahila, Swasth Goa project
- Expanded partnerships into the B2Bspace, offering corporate wellness screening programs
- Secured approvals for CervAIcal, a mobile cervical screening device
As we fire into 2025, our mission remains steadfast: to make early cancer detection accessible to every woman, everywhere. Together, we are rewriting the future of women’s health.
Onwards and Upwards!
— The UE LifeSciences Team