Name: Dr Eve Hanks
Company: MI:RNA
Position: CEO and founder
Website: https://mirna-diagnostics.com/en
About Dr Eve Hanks
MI:RNA is a high traction, high growth, multi-award-winning company bringing innovation to the veterinary diagnostics market. Its mission is to help pets live longer lives, improve the welfare of farm animals and reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment. Focused on early disease diagnosis through the use of revolutionary biomarker technology and predictive modelling, the company was founded in 2019 by Dr Eve Hanks and was the first spin out from Scotlands Rural College.
MI:RNAs innovative technology leverages the power of microRNAs (miRNAs) and artificial intelligence (AI) to provide a novel method of early-stage disease diagnosis, predict prognosis and monitor response to treatment.
Pilot studies recently published in peer reviewed journals demonstrated the potential of the new diagnostic platform to revolutionise health care for pets, helping them to live longer and happier lives. In addition, in the agricultural sector, the technology will assist vets and governments to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect consumer safety, reduce the use of antibiotics, and increase farm animal welfare and farming sustainability.
The team first tackled cardiac diseases in dogs and cats, which are common and progressive. They were successful in validating the use of the technology with high accuracy, eclipsing previous diagnostic testing methods. The team then began work with illnesses afflicting cattle and demonstrated that this cutting-edge science can be applied to different disease types across a range of species. At present, MI:RNA has a groundbreaking pipeline of research and development that will transform the diagnostics industry and pave the way to precision medicine for all species.
CEO and Founder Dr Eve Hanks has over 12 years of experience as a veterinary surgeon and is a thought leader in microRNAs having studied, researched and published in this area for nine years. She is an innovator and entrepreneur and she used her clinical background for the conception, development and implementation of MI:RNAs pioneering technology. As a female founder, she grew the business from the ground up and now leads a gender balanced team of global experts, retaining overall responsibility for strategy, investment and fundraising. In recognition of her achievements, Eve received the Impact award from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
More recently, Eve has also been recognised in the USA for her outstanding contributions to the animal health industry, being awarded the Feather in Her Cap accolade for her exceptional career achievements and her tireless efforts to inspire the next generation of women leaders in animal health. This recognition comes during an exciting period as the company embarks on a period of significant growth in the United States and globally. Earlier this year MI:RNA opened a new lab facility incorporated into the University of Georgia in Athens to enhance access to advanced diagnostics across the southeastern United States, meeting the growing needs of veterinarians, animal health professionals, and pet owners.
