Dr. Choi Pui Wah is revolutionizing women's health with a blend of scientific expertise and personal passion. A biomedical scientist with a Ph.D. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School's Brigham and Women's Hospital, she founded WomenX Biotech Limited to dismantle barriers to women's health screening. Her flagship innovation, the PadX HPV detection sanitary pad, offers a non-invasive solution to empower women worldwide. Her journey—marked by resilience, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to making women healthier and happier—is a vision born from childhood curiosity and sharpened by life's hardest lessons.

From Tragedy to Triumph: The Birth of a Mission

Dr. Choi's path began with dreams far from the lab. "When I was a kid, my dream was to be an astronaut," she recalls. The risks of space exploration steered her to a more grounded ambition: opening a bakery. Though she lacked a knack for baking—"I never had an affinity for it," she admits—the precision of the process foreshadowed her scientific career.

At six, the loss of her grandfather to liver cancer reshaped her path. "We tried to find different solutions to cure my grandfather," she remembers, "but in the end, it didn't work at all." His suffering and her family's anguish left a mark: "Disease is almost equal to a curse to the family." This spurred a resolve to unravel the mysteries of disease: "I wanted to understand how diseases are formed, why it becomes terminal and the available treatments."

By seven, she was poring over medical books, her curiosity blossoming into a passion for biology. High school science competitions earned her accolades, including the Chemistry Olympics. "Science became the key to solving real-world problems," she reflects. Biochemistry, revealing "everything happening inside the body," became her undergraduate focus.

Her mission crystallized during a summer program at a Harvard-affiliated OB/GYN lab, working on ovarian cancer samples. "The time that I spent in the lab in the US really ignited my passion in doing medical field research, particularly related to women's disease," she says, noting, "the advancement in treating and detecting female diseases is super slow."

The Birth of WomenX: Addressing Unspoken Needs

WomenX Biotech took shape when Dr. Choi returned to Hong Kong in 2018. "At that time, my aunt had two weeks of abdominal pain," she recalls. Diagnosed with a severe uterine infection, her aunt underwent emergency surgery to remove her reproductive system. "She told me that she was so afraid of the operation, because she thought that she may not have the chance to see her daughter and son again," Dr. Choi shares. Her aunt's ordeal highlighted a need for methods of early detection.

Dr. Choi saw a critical gap in women's healthcare: reliance on invasive procedures. Despite her expertise, she avoided Pap smears. "I have never done any Pap smear test," she confesses, resisting her doctor's advice for annual check-ups due to a pervasive stigma. In Hong Kong, only around 30 percent of women undergo regular Pap smears, but the cervical cancer rate has risen around 25% in the past decade. Meanwhile, around 15 to 20% of women who underwent Pap smears never did it again, deterred by the invasive process. Determined to address this, she envisioned a solution that could be widely adopted.

Her answer was sanitary pads. "99% of women [in Hong Kong] use sanitary pads to manage menstruation," she explains, making them an ideal platform for diagnosing female diseases. Thus, WomenX was born, with the PadX as its flagship innovation.

Lessons from the Lab: Building WomenX Against All Odds

Manufacturing posed a formidable challenge. Hong Kong's limited industrial infrastructure daunted her small team of biomedical and material scientists. "All of us, including me, voted 'No'" to setting up a factory, she recalls, laughing. Doubt crept in, and she grappled with the urge to abandon the project, but a partner's encouragement pushed her forward. "The key is persistence," she affirms, drawing on her Ph.D. training, where her professor's mantra—find a solution, no matter the setbacks—shaped her approach, driving her to explore every alternative until a path forward emerged.

The payoff came during clinical studies. Expecting 70-80% accuracy, Dr. Choi was stunned by PadX's precision as results aligned with Pap smear tests. A customer's experience cemented the victory: a woman with treated pre-cervical cancer tested HPV-positive using PadX, a result mirrored by a Pap smear. "It was super accurate," she exclaims, calling it "one of the biggest excitements" of her journey.

Changing Minds, Changing Lives: The Role of Advocacy

Dr. Choi tackles the fear and stigma that deter women from seeking healthcare through head-on, noting: "People fear going to clinics and hospitals—not just because the procedures are invasive, but because people in Hong Kong are so busy." She champions transparency: "We're working hard to educate and make medical procedures transparent to the public."

Customer stories drive her team. "I remember a customer who had tested positive for pre-cervical cancer some years ago, but was very afraid of Pap smears," she recounts. "She tried our sanitary pad and found it so convenient." Such feedback inspires her team: "When my staff hear that we're really helping women solve problems, they are encouraged."

Leading by Example: Cultivating a Culture of Risk-Taking

Dr. Choi's leadership is as unique as her mission. "I'm a very open person," she explains. "I can have a discussion about almost anything with my staff." Her approach hinges on igniting passion, guiding her team to align their talents with roles. She also fosters autonomy, allowing them to make wrong decisions in order to learn. Her diverse team unites under a shared vision: "We all want women to have better health management in the future. That's a must for anyone joining our company."

From Scientist to Entrepreneur: Embracing New Roles

Transitioning from scientist to entrepreneur tested Dr. Choi's introverted nature. "I am not very good at communications," she admits. Strategy is her strength, allowing her to chart clear paths forward. Mentors connect her to investors and collaborators, bridging the gap between her scientific expertise and the demands of the business world. "It's so much easier to navigate when you're not alone," she acknowledges.

A Universal Mission: Bridging Healthcare Gaps Worldwide

WomenX is on the cusp of transformative growth. "This year, we're filing with the FDA and China's NMPA," Dr. Choi reveals, laying the groundwork to enter markets like the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Affordability is key: "We're going to transform the pricing structure to make it more affordable."

At the core of her vision is a world where women worldwide will become "healthier and happier." New products, like panty liners for broader disease screening, aim to serve women across all life stages. Her mission transcends borders, from sponsoring cloth sanitary pads for schoolgirls in Africa to delivering cutting-edge diagnostics to developed nations. "We hope to help not just the developed countries, but also developing countries," she emphasizes.

Breaking Stereotypes in Science: Rethinking Gender Norms in STEM

For aspiring women in STEM, Dr. Choi offers wisdom born from her own experience. "Don't think that being a strong woman will block you from romance or getting a husband." Growing up in a family of four women, she proved to her father that "daughters and sons are equal," noting, "It's about passion and ability, not gender."

Dr. Choi Pui Wah is not just a scientist or entrepreneur—she's a visionary rewriting women's health. Her work promises a future where healthcare is a universal right, not a privilege, and where happiness is within every woman's reach.