This article was originally published by Jordan Flemming for the University of Waterloo on January 29, 2025. Read the original here. Image Source: University of Waterloo.
CT Murphy, founder of CELLECT., is on a mission to transform health screenings by using nanotechnology in menstrual products to detect HPV and cervical cancer. The innovation could potentially eliminate the need for invasive Pap smears, offering a less stressful, non-invasive alternative.
“Our goal is to make health care more inclusive and less intimidating,” Murphy says. “By integrating screening into a product that people are already familiar with, we’re removing a barrier to care, making it simpler and more accessible.”
Menstrual blood contains important health indicators. Using this insight and a degree in nanotechnology engineering, Murphy developed a nanomaterial that can be inserted into tampons or pads. This material passively captures and preserves DNA and cells of interest from menstrual blood, which can then be tested for HPV, cervical cancer and other DNA-based diseases — including sexually transmitted infections.
Murphy, now pursuing graduate studies in chemical engineering at Waterloo, continues refining the nanomaterials to improve stability and scalability. “Innovation is messy and never straightforward,” Murphy says. “We had to rethink and re-engineer multiple times, but each iteration brought us closer to a practical, effective and scalable solution.”
CELLECT. has garnered attention from health-care professionals and potential users, who are excited about the possibility of a non-invasive alternative to Pap smears. The startup is positioned to make a meaningful change, not only for women but also for anyone who menstruates, offering an inclusive, accessible screening method for communities often overlooked by traditional gynecological care models.
With early successes in prototype development, and supported by Waterloo’s Velocity incubator and funding programs, CELLECT. is poised to transform health care. Murphy’s drive to make menstrual blood a vital diagnostic fluid could change the way we approach health screenings worldwide.
