The following is a transcript of an interview by Oriana Kraft with Dongjin Shin, CEO of BL Science Corp – a pioneer and leader of In-vitro diagnostics, based in South Korea – about GynPad, a sanitation-pad that can be used to self-collect specimens for HPV and STD testing.
Hi Dongjin! Nice to meet you could you introduce yourself briefly to readers and explain your background. 
Hi! I’m Dongjin Shin, CEO of BL Science Corp a leader and pioneer of In-vitro diagnostics company in Korea. I work on the development of in-vitro diagnostics devices and methods for improving diagnosis of woman’s diseases such as cervical cancer and HPV screening. I have been leading the development of Liquid-based Cytology Sample Processor, called CellSquare and the non-invasive self-sampling device GynPad® for HPV & STD screening.
What is GynPad?
GynPad is a sanitation-pad that can be used to self-collect specimens for HPV and STD testing. GynPad is the world’s first and only non-invasive sample collection kit with proven efficacy in real world study.
Why did you feel now was the time for GynPad?
The fact that it’s non-invasive. Currently all available testing methods are invasive, potentially resulting in pain, secondary infections, psychological stress and low-quality sampling issue and that may lead woman does not get tested regularly.
GynPad was developed for the purpose of collecting samples remotely in areas where it is difficult to adopt PAP-smear test due to poor medical accessibility and the affordability of DNA test. We have already successfully developed and marketed the device in some Asian countries including Korea, Hongkong, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and so on.
During the Covid Pandemic, DNA tests have become more common, in-vitro diagnosis environment has been rapidly grown, and the DNA test cost has significantly decreased. I think it is time for the convenience of self-sampling to spread globally.
How have sociocultural norms influenced GynPad? If you had to pick one barrier as being the largest one to impede innovation/conversations around women’s health what would you say it was?
We want to deliver the message, “I DECIDE,” with GynPad. We would like women to have sovereignty over when, how and why they choose to get tested.
STDs are very common and costly all over the world. About 20% of the population suffers from STDs, which ends up costing the the healthcare system billions of dollars in each year. If untreated, STDs can lead to serious consequences including infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths which negatively affect quality of life.
That is why pre-screening is recommended for every woman 30 and above. But it is not easy for women to get the screening. Let’s think of how women get STD screening results.
First and foremost, they have to make their way to the hospital and wait for their turn. When their name is called loudly, they go into the examination room, sit down on the cold stirrups and let a stranger collect the sample from the cervix. And they need to re-visit the hospital for the result of the examination. It takes too much time, and their privacy is not respected. Although women know that getting regularly tested is important, because of fear, shame, and discomfort, they tend to avoid visiting the obstetrics and gynecology clinic. And we should not forget the fact that accessibility to hospitals are not equal to everyone. Furthermore, since the collection method of traditional swab requires direct contact to the cervix surface which may be invasive, it may lead to secondary infection.
Effective screening techniques are needed, and privacy must be respected. We have been working to improve the current method and process, and GynPad can come out to the world.
I believe GynPad can revolutionize a certain aspect of women’s healthcare by introducing woman-friendly screening method.
What have some of Gynpad largest challenges been?
Although it varies from country to country, regulation on medical practice is one of huge barriers to adopt new medical devices and diagnostic techniques. When a woman wants to know the result of her GynPad test, she needs to visit the hospital in order to get the report from the doctor because the current Medical Service Act in Korea prohibits telemedicine.
Fortunately, GynPad is joining Regulatory Sandbox, a framework set up by a regulator that temporally allows innovators to conduct the service under a regulator’s supervision, in 2021, so that women do 
not need to visit the hospital, can get their examination report via SMS or mobile app.
How do you see Gynpad fitting into the FemTech landscape?
In the past, medical devices for women were not with women in mind – like the stirrup chair.
GynPad can dramatically change women’s health by providing easier and simpler self-sampling method, as well as privacy and faster results. In the most familiar and comfortable way, women can check their own health regularly – and the collected data could generate further solutions.
Do you envision collaborating with any other FemTech companies in the future?
GynPad needs to collaborate with the commercial laboratory like CLIA certified lab. Conventional PCR and real-time PCR techniques are alright for the test. We are exploring GynPad’s usage more in other field such as prenatal examination, microbiome, and incompetent Cervix based on the biomarker that we can collect through vaginal discharge.
Are you looking to form any specific partnerships?
We are looking for a commercial partner who has the same dream as us. And if the partner knows the diagnosis industry such as female diagnosis, telemedicine business, or having valid diagnostic test coverage in US, that would be great.
This Interview is part of our FemTech Startup Spotlights — Interviews with FemTech Companies around the world changing the game in regards to diagnostics, therapeutics and care in general. We want to highlight the global femtech market – femtech companies wherever they may be. And is in line with the theme of our next FemTech Summit — which will tackle women’s health issues facing a college-age demographic.