Removing cancerous tissue is a delicate matter. For too long, surgeons have had to rely solely on their sense of touch to navigate the complexities of breast-conserving surgery. Without tools to aid precision, too many patients require follow-up surgery to ensure all their cancer is removed, creating not only financial strains but also physical and emotional stress for patients who are already suffering.
OncoRes Medical, an Australian company specialising in developing biomedical devices, was born to solve this problem. Combining pioneering technology with surgical expertise, OncoRes is pioneering a new era with a handheld device that, if successful, will allow surgeons to differentiate between healthy and cancerous tissue in real-time.
OncoRes CEO Katharine Giles, M.D., shares how her medical, Venture Capital and life experiences have shaped how she leads an eclectic team laser-focused on changing the future of cancer surgery.
Where it all started
OncoRes was initially founded by the pressing need to improve the lives of thousands of people diagnosed with breast cancer each year. Clinicians and biomedical engineers at the University of Western Australia combined their expertise to create a new technology that enhanced the precise removal of tissue with cancerous cells.
Nearly 30% of women undergoing breast-conserving surgery will be told they require a second operation when follow-up tests show that cancerous tissue remains too close to the edges of the excised tissue. The absence of a real-time, precise method to verify the complete removal of cancerous tissue during surgery leaves patients facing repeat surgeries and prolonged uncertainty.
With its groundbreaking technology combining OCT, which uses light waves to provide a detailed, microscopic view of the tissue, with elastography, a method that quantifies tissue stiffness, OncoRes is on the cusp of enabling surgeons to distinguish between cancerous and healthy tissue on the operating table.
A vision and a passion
Kath’s path to medical innovation was shaped by her professional and personal experiences. While her love of science and innate desire to help others drew her to medicine, she quickly realised that, although she enjoyed the scientific aspects of her medical training, she had ideas and ideals for improving the healthcare system.
So, she decided to pivot careers and become a venture investor. In this position, she could combine her science and business background to provide the funding and capability support to translate innovative ideas into devices, diagnostics and therapeutics that could improve patient care at scale.
While continuing to work as a surgical assistant, Kath expanded her venture capital experience at first Stone Ridge Ventures and then Brandon Capital and was introduced to the technology behind OncoRes in 2013. Thanks to her surgical background, she quickly recognised the immense potential of this novel technology.
“I was an Investment Manager at Brandon Capital when I first saw the technology that became OncoRes – it was love at first sight, and I’ve fallen increasingly in love with it as it’s grown and developed,” she recalls.
Made in Western Australia
Kath stepped into the CEO role in 2017, building a team of 44 people responsible for delivering research, development, and manufacturing—something she had never done before.
Despite early scepticism about the lack of local talent and resources, OncoRes has proven that a medical device company can be successfully built and scaled from Western Australia.
Unconventional approaches
Like many innovations, it was an achievement born out of necessity. While Western Australia has a small medtech talent pool, it excels in the world-leading mining and resources industries. By prioritising aptitude and connection to purpose over medtech experience, individuals from outside the sector brought fresh perspectives, challenging the status quo and introducing innovative approaches.
Due to the limited local medtech workforce, some business operations were initially outsourced overseas. However, it soon became clear that keeping operations in-house was not only more cost-effective but also delivered higher-quality outcomes. This was never more evident than when the OncoRes team discovered that a key in-house component outperformed—both in quality and cost—the one provided by a well-credentialed U.S. vendor.
Drawing from her experiences as a surgeon and a mother, Kath developed an empathetic leadership style that prioritises shared goals, understanding, and genuine connection. Breaking away from traditional hiring practices, she recognised the value of engaging talent from diverse disciplines outside the medtech industry and witnessed the powerful synergies that emerged when multidisciplinary teams were assembled.
Pushing past limitations
One of Kath’s proudest achievements is achieving things that people said were impossible, building a team that she would be proud of anywhere in the world, and gaining global recognition for local technology, including from the FDA and leading US surgeons.
“We had spent so much time ensuring we were developing something that surgeons truly wanted, so to get the feedback that we’d hit the nail on the head was incredibly rewarding.”
OncoRes is committed to advancing cancer treatments and fostering a culture of innovation and resilience. They have received fast-track approval from the FDA through a Breakthrough Device Designation (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and are currently fundraising for their next clinical trial to provide the evidence needed to progress towards approval. “I believe in refusing to accept limitations because something hasn’t been done before. Anything is possible when you don’t let past limitations define your future,” Kath says.
With her eyes set on the future, Kath remains focused on the company’s continued success in the fight against cancer. “It’s about living in the moment, having as much fun as possible, and enjoying the journey. If you have a huge goal, don’t lose sight of the joy along the way.”
Learn more about OncoRes website and LinkedIn.
