Dr Eve Hanks is CEO and founder of MIRNA, a veterinary diagnostics company focused on early disease diagnosis through the combination of a revolutionary biomarker technology and artificial intelligence platform and a spin out from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). Eve is a veterinary pioneer – as the founder of a dynamic, female-led team bringing new technology to market, she shares her journey as a leader and entrepreneur in veterinary health.
Biomarker technology is setting new standards in both pet care and livestock health, helping reshape how we predict and diagnose disease in animals. Eve is leading the charge towards faster, more accurate disease detection that’s improving animal welfare and supporting sustainable agriculture. Read on for her insights from the cutting-edge science behind early diagnosis, to real-world impacts on pets, farmed animals and the environment.
Please summarise your journey:
I qualified as a veterinary surgeon 14 years ago, working firstly in busy, fast paced mixed practices and then combining a range of work, including telehealth and emergency care, alongside study. I discovered a passion for research during my time in clinic and completed an advanced certificate in medicine before undertaking a PhD in immunology. At the end of my studies, I was employed by a Scottish University as a clinical pathologist and this then gave a unique insight into the world of diagnostics. After two years in this role, I pulled all three strands together; research, clinical work and diagnostic testing, and I launched MI:RNA in 2019. As CEO and founder, I created a diagnostic platform technology with AI modelling which was pan-species and pan-disease and had the ability to revolutionise disease testing and prediction. Now, this has grown from an idea to a practical, applicable science with the help of the amazing team and all of our investors and stakeholders. We have people in nine different countries working with us across two laboratory sites and a range of partners and collaborators within the industry, co-creating the next generation of diagnostics.
Describe your typical day from waking to sleeping:
I spend a lot of time travelling so I tend to wake up and take a second or two to work out where I am. Then, predominantly, look forward to the day. I love my work and I feel very lucky to be in this position. There isn’t really a typical day and it’s the variety that I find most stimulating. My role involves everything including internal strategy planning, industry engagement, raising investment, reporting to the Board, scientific education, partner relations, scientific publications and networking. However, I also work with each team member, spend time with our academic collaborators and support marketing and messaging. I also mentor a growing number of start-ups at an earlier stage than MI:RNA and I seek mentorship for myself. Some days I am amazingly productive, learning and growing, other days I feel like the hours have passed too quickly and I haven’t made a dent in the to do list at all. There is a degree of stress, some difficult emotions and sometimes it seems an insurmountable task lies ahead. However, I see that as part of a full life and it shows I’m pushing out of my comfort zone and embracing new challenges.
How would you describe yourself in a sentence?
Positive, enthusiastic, fun and I love personal development with a good sprinkle of humour.
How would others describe you in a sentence?
Claudia Cavalluzzo, COO of MI:RNA – “Eve is an energetic, caring and action-driven leader who sees the glass as half full, always.”
What has been your top success and what have you learned from this?
Moving to France, learning a new language, making new friends and renovating an old house. This taught me I can do so much more than I thought possible and that facing fears is a very useful thing to do.
What has been your biggest challenge, setback or failure and how have you overcome it? How did you grow or change as a result?
I have had lots of failures I could describe in great detail because one of my biggest challenges is dwelling on my failures and letting that hold me back. I have worked hard on this area with my psychologist and mentors and I understand that over analysing setbacks and searching for logical explanations, when often there isn’t one, is a way of avoiding accepting the situation and moving on. I particularly do this when moving on will be painful. Although I recognise this now, it’s still hard to change.
What compromises have you had to make and what, if anything, could have helped?
I had to put the business and my career before some other aspects of my life. I travel a lot and find that I have to compromise time with friends and family as a result. I have some amazing friends who understand and sometimes, some other friendships have fallen by the wayside. I don’t really know what could have helped here, perhaps it’s part of an evolution. However, I definitely know that support from those closest to me is an essential part of this journey and I’m really appreciative of everyone who has given me a hug and listened to my worries over the last five or six years.
What advice would you have given to your younger self, that you would now give to others wanting to follow your path?
I would go back and explain to myself that success isn’t about how many millions you raise or how many employees you have, it’s a quiet whisper in your mind that you are on the right path. If you are showing up, day after day, to do the best you can, then whatever happens, you are already successful.
I couldn’t have got where I am today without…
Support, recognition, therapy and the many laughs we have had along the way.
What are your three top likes?
Ice cream, dogs, sunshine
What are your three top dislikes?
Winter, turbulence when flying and hiccups
What is the most helpful book you’ve read and why?
Face the fear by Susan Jeffers
Many thanks to Eve Hanks for sharing her story to inspire veterinary women to aspire and grow into their full career potential.
If you would like to share your story please get in touch at info@veterinarywoman.co.uk
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