Women’s health AI app begins clinical trials

Ovum has launched clinical trials at two Australian hospitals to test whether its AI assistant can improve participation in women’s preventative healthcare.

The six-month studies at the Royal Hospital for Women and St George Hospital are among the first in the country to assess AI as a preventative health tool designed specifically for women.

The app was developed by Dr Ariella Heffernan-Marks, who trained as a doctor and created Ovum after witnessing systemic healthcare barriers that left women disempowered across socio-economic groups.

Ovum enables women to document health information, integrate medical reports and data from wearable devices, and generate personalised advice and summaries for health professionals.

Dr Heffernan-Marks said: “As a medical professional, it was incredibly important to me that Ovum underwent rigorous reviews regarding ethics and standards from the very beginning.

“Other apps do not go through this process or often do so after being in the market for years.”

“By launching these clinical trials, we’re not just validating Ovum’s technology, we’re pioneering a new standard for how women’s health tech should be developed, tested and trusted.”

The George Institute for Global Health is providing clinical oversight, with Professor Amanda Henry, head of the institute’s women’s health programme and principal coordinating investigator, leading the trials.

Professor Henry said: “As a doctor and researcher, I’ve seen firsthand how systemic gaps in care can lead to poorer outcomes for women, especially those navigating high-risk pregnancies.

“These studies are a chance to change that trajectory, and to build an equitable healthcare system for women on their healthcare journey, through all stages of life.”

The app recently secured US$40,000 in funding from pharmaceutical investment firm Soul Patts and is expected to launch on the App Store later this month.

Elise Jennings, chief executive of the Royal Hospital for Women Foundation, said the collaboration reflected the need for innovation to be “grounded in compassion, evidence and equity” while “amplifying the voices of women”.

Dr Heffernan-Marks said the trials are intended to address women’s experiences of having their health concerns dismissed, with Ovum aiming to “lead the way and set a new global standard when it comes to tech and healthcare”.