Perth Imaging Tech Raises $27M to Transform Breast Surgery

Imagine having surgery to remove breast cancer, only to learn weeks later that the surgeon missed some cancerous tissue and you need another operation. That devastating scenario happens to roughly one in four women undergoing breast-conserving surgery, but new Australian technology could change that.

Perth-based OncoRes Medical just raised $27 million to advance clinical trials of Elora, an imaging system that lets surgeons see exactly where cancer cells are during surgery. The technology works like a highly sophisticated microscope, showing real-time images of tissue as surgeons work.

The company, spun out from the University of Western Australia in 2016, is launching its first clinical trial as an actual surgical intervention. Six hospitals across Western Australia and Victoria will recruit 110 breast cancer patients to test the system in operating rooms.

Current methods for checking surgical margins often rely on pathologists examining tissue after surgery is complete. By the time results come back showing cancerous cells remain, patients face the physical and emotional toll of scheduling another operation. Elora aims to eliminate that uncertainty by providing instant feedback while patients are still on the operating table.

Dr. Katharine Giles, OncoRes CEO and UWA graduate, says the funding validates years of groundbreaking research. The investment will support the Australian trial, advance regulatory approval for a pivotal US trial, and fund manufacturing expansion.

The company is also exploring how the technology could help with other cancer types, including prostate cancer. New board member Renee Ryan, a veteran of the global medical device industry, joined specifically to guide OncoRes toward US clinical milestones and commercial expansion.

The Ripple Effect

Beyond helping individual patients avoid repeat surgeries, this technology represents a win for Australia's innovation sector. Homegrown research from UWA, the Western Australian Department of Health, and the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research is now attracting serious international investment and attention.

The imaging system emerged from collaboration between world-renowned breast cancer surgeon Professor Christobel Saunders and biomedical engineer Professor Brendan Kennedy. Their partnership shows what's possible when clinical expertise meets engineering innovation.

For the 110 women who'll participate in the trial, the technology offers hope for better surgical outcomes. For the broader medical community, it demonstrates how Australian innovation can tackle global healthcare challenges. And for future patients worldwide, it could mean fewer surgeries, less anxiety, and better chances of getting cancer removal right the first time.

Sometimes the best news comes from solving problems we didn't realize could be solved.