Nine Diagnostics Co-Founder Mijin Kim Named a STAT Wunderkind

Nine Diagnostics co-founder Dr. Mijin Kim was recognized as a STAT Wunderkind, honoring her groundbreaking transition from physical chemistry to biomedical engineering. Her pioneering work with carbon nanotube nanosensors and machine learning is opening new frontiers in early cancer detection, including ovarian and other hard-to-screen cancers. This recognition highlights Dr. Kim’s scientific vision and the foundational role her research plays in Nine Diagnostics’ mission to transform diagnostics with nanosensor and AI technology.

2023 STAT Wunderkinds | Mijin Kim

We’re proud to celebrate Dr. Mijin Kim, co-founder and Scientific Advisor at Nine Diagnostics, who was previously recognized as a STAT Wunderkind — an annual honor highlighting early-career researchers whose work is reshaping medicine.

From Chemistry to Cancer Diagnostics

Dr. Kim began her career in physical chemistry, studying the unique properties of carbon nanotubes. During her Ph.D., she discovered that these nanoscale materials could be engineered to fluoresce differently depending on the molecules around them. In a single line at the end of her thesis, she noted the potential for biomedical applications — a spark that would redefine her career trajectory.

Inspired to translate discovery into impact, Dr. Kim pivoted to biomedical engineering during her postdoctoral fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. There, she applied her nanotube innovations to one of the hardest problems in women’s health: detecting ovarian cancer from a simple blood sample.

A New Lens for Early Detection

Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to catch early because its biomarkers overlap with benign conditions. Dr. Kim’s approach leverages carbon nanotubes that respond to a milieu of proteins and metabolites, generating complex fluorescent signatures. By applying machine learning to these patterns, her research has identified nanotube designs that can distinguish blood from ovarian cancer patients with unprecedented precision.

The potential extends beyond ovarian cancer. With refinement, the technology could unlock early detection tools for other hard-to-screen cancers such as pancreatic and gastrointestinal malignancies — shifting the timeline for intervention and improving survival outcomes.

Advancing Nine Diagnostics’ Mission

At Nine Diagnostics, Dr. Kim’s pioneering work is part of the foundation of our platform: nanosensor technology paired with AI to make biology measurable and actionable. Her recognition as a STAT Wunderkind underscores the scientific excellence and vision that define our team, and our commitment to transforming how medicine diagnoses and monitors disease.