Author: Jordan Locy, Ethan Bochicchio & Aaron K. Nordman
In September 2020, Dr. Bodour Salhia founded CpG Diagnostics, intent on transforming cancer diagnostics through innovative epigenetic technology. High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), the most aggressive subtype of epithelial ovarian cancer, requires timely specialist management. Utilizing the patented OvaPrint, the only cell-free DNA methylation blood test for ovarian cancer diagnostics, CpG Diagnostics has the stated goal of being able to “deliver innovative diagnostic solutions that enable more accurate detection, informed treatment decisions, and better patient management.” Now in the pre-launch phase, CpG Diagnostics is spearheading a radical cancer diagnostics breakthrough.
When in 2023, the findings of OvaPrint’s background clinical research were published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, the study made headlines. Fox News, Health Day, and Healthworld all published articles covering its impressive findings. In the published study OvaPrint achieved a specificity of 96% and a sensitivity of 84% for discriminating High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer from benign masses, surpassing all other commercial tests. OvaPrint is currently undergoing clinical validation in the company’s recently licensed CLIA lab, and results from an ongoing clinical validation study are proving to be extremely promising.
CpG Diagnostics is poised to help hundreds of thousands of patients as up to 20% of women will be diagnosed with an adnexal mass in their lifetime. With the current diagnostic tools, doctors cannot confidently make decisions about what kind of treatment or referrals a woman with an adnexal mass needs when an adnexal mass is not clearly malignant or benign. That diagnostic gap is what CpG Diagnostics is looking to fill: sing scientific research to market to enable clinicians to make better, more informed decisions for their patients.
Dr. Salhia is the founder and CEO of CpG Diagnostics. She is an Associate Professor of Cancer Biology at the Keck School of Medicine, Interim Chair in the Department of Cancer Biology, Royce and Mary Trotter Chair in Cancer Research and the co-leader of the Epigenetics Regulation in Cancer Program at the USC Norris Comprehensive Center. Dr. Salhia’s research unites the study of cancer genomics and epigenomics to solve clinically unmet needs. She was among the first to recognize the power of cfDNA methylation as a transformative biomarker for cancer detection and monitoring. Her pioneering work, including one of the earliest genome-wide methylation studies of cfDNA in metastatic breast cancer, laid the foundation for her translational research program and ultimately led to the founding of CpG Diagnostics to bring these discoveries to patients.
Dr. Salhia has worked with organizations like the Arizona Myeloma Network and Susan G. Komen, both locally and internationally, and received multiple awards for her outreach and leadership, including the Phoenix Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 and a recipient of the 2024 USC Academic Senate Distinguished Faculty Service Award. The Alfred E. Mann Institute (AMI) makes investments into healthcare, life science, and biomedical technologies through the USC AMI Innovation Fund. AMI will invest in the technology that Dr. Salhia and CpG Diagnostics have developed to advance a true innovation in cancer detection and support a population of women with a critical tool for their health. “AMI is excited to invest in CpG Diagnostics, bringing the next generation of cancer detection to women all around the world, and provide the right treatment for the right patient. This technology and company demonstrate how innovation and entrepreneurship are translating into real solutions at USC.” – Dr. Tariq Warsi, Managing Director at USC AMI. OvaPrint is a one-of-a-kind technology set to continue its journey to the forefront of diagnostics in the coming years. The Research Strategy & Development (RSD) team engaged Dr. Salhia to discuss this exciting investment:
RSD:
What made you decide that this technology was worth commercializing?
Dr. Salhia:
For me, it has always been about doing research that solves real problems in medicine. From the start, I wanted my work to align with improving patient care and giving doctors better tools to make the best decisions for their patients. When I began exploring cfDNA methylation as a new path forward for cancer detection, the idea was met with skepticism. Still, I believed it could reveal what other approaches could not—and that conviction ultimately pushed us to bring it beyond the lab and into clinical practice.
RSD:
How did you put yourself into an entrepreneurial mindset and what challenges did you face early on?
Dr. Salhia:
Becoming an entrepreneur required reframing how I thought about my science. Instead of asking only “what can we discover?”, I had to ask “how can this be delivered safely, reliably, and at scale to patients and physicians?” Early challenges included understanding regulatory pathways, securing capital, and balancing my academic role with the demands of building a company. But I leaned on mentors and peers and treated every challenge as part of the learning curve.
RSD:
How has USC enabled you to promote, accelerate, or champion your company?
Dr. Salhia:
USC has been pivotal. From providing research support, to licensing the intellectual property that my lab developed, to offering mentorship and introductions through the Stevens Center for Innovation, the MESH Academy, and direct investment in the startup, the university has supported both the science and its translation into impact. Importantly, USC also invested in my own training and education in the startup world, sponsoring my participation in programs such as USC Techstars, CLS FAST, and Heal.LA. These opportunities not only built my entrepreneurial skill set but also connected me to a broader network of investors, advisors, and peers. Being embedded in USC’s clinical and research ecosystem has further given us invaluable access to collaborators, infrastructure, and patient cohorts, which has been essential for accelerating our progress. It has also given me the opportunity to pay it forward by helping fellow Trojans interested in the start-up world where I can, and to continue being part of a community that helps support innovation and collaboration at USC.
RSD:
What was your experience working with the AMI and how have they empowered the company?
Dr. Salhia:
The Alfred E. Mann Institute (AMI) provided us with not only financial support but also strategic guidance. They push us to think critically about our business model, market positioning, and long-term growth strategy.
RSD:
If you could offer a few words of wisdom to your fellow entrepreneurs and innovators, what would that be?
Dr. Salhia:
Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. The transition from academia to entrepreneurship can be intimidating, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Surround yourself with people who complement your strengths and be open to learning the language of business. Most importantly, stay grounded in your mission—the “why” will carry you through the inevitable ups and downs.
RSD:
Anything else you would like to share about how the USC Innovation Ecosystem has helped you or could do better?
Dr. Salhia:
USC’s innovation ecosystem has given us the foundation to launch and grow. As the ecosystem continues to evolve, one opportunity is to streamline access to capital and external partnerships, which are essential for scaling. Even so, I am grateful for the network, mentorship, and support that USC has fostered—without it, our journey from lab bench to patient bedside would not have been possible.
For more information on AMI or AMI-related inquiries, contact Tariq Warsi at twarsi@usc.edu or visit innovation.usc.edu