Trailblazing tech women honoured as 'role models'

Five women from the East of England have won prestigious awards from Innovate UK.

Their work is helping to transform early cancer detection and drug development, online experiences for people with disabilities and improve food production.

Each will receive £75,000 and access to training and networking opportunities.

The Women in Innovation awards was launched in 2016 to encourage more to grow their own businesses and help to address inequality in the sector.

Dr Emma Yates has devised the Enlighten blood test which Innovate UK says has the potential to "transform the early detection of cancer".

The test works by identifying the body's first immune response to the disease, which is evident before the tumour progresses enough to produce other signals.

It is designed to work on 10 types of cancer including breast, colo-rectal and pancreatic.

Dr Yates, co-founder of Proteotype Diagnostics based at the Babraham Research Campus near Cambridge, said "we've made it very cheap and simple to use in the hope it could become part of a national screening programme".

Early diagnosis of cancer improves patient outcomes and is a personal mission for Dr Yates.

"My husband lost three close family members to cancer by the time he was 14," she said.

"We have just started recruiting people for a clinical trial of the Enlighten test and we hope to have it market-ready in five years."

On winning the award, she added "it's an honour to be recognised alongside these truly inspiring women"

"I do think women in innovation face additional challenges. Many of us are juggling businesses and family. The funding and networking opportunities which this award brings are incredibly valuable," she said.

Claire Given, from Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, founded Equipmii.

Born with one hand, she often found the online shopping experience frustrating as she bought products such as vacuums and prams, only to find them too difficult to use.

Research shows Ms Given's experience is common among people with physical disabilities.

She has created a platform which was able to match the user's personal profile and needs to a product or service which was well designed for them.

It offers personalised recommendations validated by healthcare professionals, promoting inclusivity and empowering informed choices.

As chief executive of Lambda Agri in Girton, near Cambridge, Dr Monica Saavedra has developed a light-changing spray paint for greenhouse panels which boosts crop growth.

Her technology converts UV light from the sun into red light which is preferable for plant growth and photosynthesis.

Early tests have shown it can increase yields of basil and rocket without any extra demand for electricity or land.

The company is keen to begin larger-scale trials but believes it will work for any type of plant crop.

Dr Saavedra said she was focused on using technology to achieve sustainability and food security.

Binhui Shao, founder of Cambridge-based Easy Digital, wants to improve digital accessibility for the more than two million people in the UK who have visual impairment.

Ms Shao is developing an AI-powered audio device that can provide seamless internet access without needing sight or advanced skills.

The technology will also learn user-behaviour to make the experience more personal.

With a background in chemistry, biology and artificial intelligence (AI), Dr Layla Hosseini-Gerami has co-founded a company which is hoping to make new drugs safer for patients, and less likely to fail trials.

Ignota Labs in Cambridge says half of newly developed drugs do not reach the market because of safety concerns.

Dr Hosseini-Gerami is using AI to "rescue" these shelved medicines by identifying how they will affect the human body, how problem elements can be changed and the impact of those changes on a drug's effectiveness.

This innovation aims to reduce research and development costs, speed up drug development, and provide new hope for patients.

This year 50 award winners were selected from 1,452 applications - a record number for the competition. They will share the £3.75m prize pot.

Dr Stella Peace, interim executive chairwoman of Innovate UK, said: "The Women in Innovation programme is a powerful catalyst for change, not just for the brilliant women entrepreneurs it supports, but for the entire UK innovation landscape.

"By breaking down barriers and amplifying diverse voices, Innovate UK are fostering a more inclusive and dynamic eco-system that drives progress across all sectors.

"This programme is about more than funding – it's about creating role models, building networks, and inspiring the next generation of women innovators to dream big and transform our world."

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