First-Void Urine: An Innovative Sample Type for HPV Screening

Name: First-Void Urine: An Innovative Sample Type for HPV Screening
Uploaded: 2025-11-10T00:00:00+00:00
Description: In this Teach Me in 10 episode, we are joined by Dr. Tara Crawford Parks, Director R&D at DNA Genotek, who explains the potential of first-void urine samples to revolutionize diagnostic and monitoring practices.

Video

Published: November 10, 2025

Laura Hemmingham, PhD

speaking with

Tara Crawford Parks, PhD

Urine analysis is a routine technique to identify and diagnose various health conditions. However, standard urine samples often fail to capture the full range of biomarkers present in the urine, as they are typically captured mid-stream.

First-void urine collection devices provide a simple, non-invasive method to obtain urine samples, facilitating frequent testing, which is crucial for early detection and monitoring of a range of infections, cancers and other diseases.

In this Teach Me in 10 episode, we are joined by Dr. Tara Crawford Parks, Director R&D at DNA Genotek, who explains the potential of first-void urine samples to revolutionize diagnostic and monitoring practices.

Watch this episode to explore:

The advantages of using first-void urine in disease diagnosis and monitoring
How first-void urine collection devices allow for a non-invasive, easily obtained sample
The diverse benefits of enabling self-collected first-void urine samples

Further resources:

Meet the Author

Laura Hemmingham, PhD

Scientific Content Producer

Laura holds a BSc in Zoology from Queen Mary University of London, an MSc in Palaeoanthropology from UCL, and a PhD in Environmental Sciences from Royal Holloway, University of London. Her academic journey has been fueled by a broad interest in the life sciences and a passion for making complex science accessible to diverse audiences. Before joining Technology Networks in 2025, she gained experience across several areas of science communication, including e-learning, external communications, and science writing. Her work has focused on translating technical research into engaging, understandable content tailored for both specialist and general audiences. As a Scientific Content Producer for custom video content at Technology Networks, Laura is particularly interested in bridging the gap between scientific discovery and public engagement through creative storytelling. Her work aims to support scientific literacy while highlighting the real-world impact of research and innovation.

Interviewing

Tara Crawford Parks, PhD

Director, R&D

Dr. Tara Crawford Parks is a Director of R&D at DNA Genotek Inc., with expertise in cellular and molecular biology, focused on translational medicine and human health. She excels at building high-performing teams and communicating complex science to diverse audiences. She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Ottawa, studying RNA-binding proteins in skeletal muscle differentiation and neuromuscular disorders, while leading cancer biology projects on Rhabdomyosarcoma, Prostate Cancer, and Glioblastoma. As a postdoctoral fellow, she expanded a novel cancer research program on RNA-binding proteins, advancing translational studies with potential clinical impact in precision medicine.