Three women-founded and led Australian companies have been nominated for the prestigious Prix Galien USA Awards, which are widely regarded as medical innovation’s top prize.
ANDHealth, led by Bronwyn Le Grice as CEO and founder, has become the first Australian commercialisation organisation to be nominated for the prestigious Prix Galien USA Award in the Best Incubators, Accelerators and Equity category.
OncoRes Medical, a Perth-based cancer-surgery imaging company has been nominated in the Best Startup category, and Gheorg, a digital mental health tool for children, in the Best Digital Health Solution category.
OncoRes Medical is led by founder and CEO Dr Katharine Giles. Gheorg is led by founder and CEO, Dr Louise Metcalf.
The awards program, considered to be the Nobel Prize equivalent in healthcare, recognises breakthrough innovation in biopharmaceutical research, medical technology and digital health, as well as the organisations doing most to improve human health.
ANDHealth has been nominated for its flagship ANDHealth+ program and is one of only 11 nominees in its category, alongside institutions including the Mayo Clinic.
“A decade ago, Australia’s digital health sector was embryonic and ANDHealth was just a concept,” ANDHealth Founder and CEO, Bronwyn Le Grice, said.
“From that tiny seed, to be recognised on this global stage alongside the biggest names in medical innovation shows just how far both ANDHealth and our extraordinary innovators have come in less than 10 years.”
OncoRes Medical and Gheorg have both been supported through ANDHealth’s MRFF-backed non-dilutive investment programs.
“Australia is home to a significant pipeline of world-class digital and connected health technologies and innovators,” Le Grice said.
“From wearable sensors that catch life-threatening complications before birth, to at-home treatments that help patients avoid surgery, remote rehabilitation that reduces hospital stays, and AI that helps surgeons remove cancer more precisely.
“It’s all being invented, developed and commercialised right here.”
ANDHealth is Australia’s only organisation dedicated to commercialising digital and connected health technologies.
Through its flagship ANDHealth+ program, the 28 alumni companies have raised more than $211 million in follow-on funding, generated more than $97 million in new revenue, and reached over 4.7 million patients.
The power of women-led companies
It’s worth noting the significance of three Australian women-led and founded companies being nominated for the prestigious awards program. Le Grice says it is “a testament to the immense experience, insight, determination and capability of our female entrepreneurs and executives”.
“Their success is even more significant when you consider that Australian startups with at least one female founder raised just 24% of total startup equity capital in 2025 and face significant barriers in both capital and access when compared to their male counterparts,” she said.
“46% of ANDHealth’s pipeline of almost 1400 companies have a female founder and/or CEO. As a female founded and led organisation, we are deeply proud of our female innovators and are committed to removing the systemic barriers which they face in order to take their world class innovations to the global stage.
“Australian women make up more than 70% of our healthcare workforce and are responsible for making approximately 80% of healthcare purchasing decisions.
“This lived experience, combined with the ambition to transform patient outcomes on a global scale, results in technologies which support diverse populations, materially impact patient lives and ultimately result in world class, innovative companies.”
Winners will be announced during the Prix Galien USA Awards Ceremony on 29 October 2026 at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.