Finalists Selected for 2021 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge

The roster is set for the 6th annual Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge (HIC) at the University of Washington. Judges selected 21 student finalist teams (detailed below) to compete on Wednesday, March 3 at the virtual event hosted by the UW Foster School’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship. The finalist teams (and two alternates) represent regional colleges and universities from across the Pacific Northwest, including Washington and British Columbia.

Nearly 80 entrepreneurs, investors, and health professionals from the region helped screen the applications online. They chose the finalists from a pool of 35 submissions representing eight total colleges and universities. UW teams alone feature graduate and undergraduate students representing more than a dozen majors, programs, and departments.

Finalist teams are competing for more than $40,000 in prizes, including two brand new Best Idea Prizes:

• $2,500 Best Idea for Pandemic Preparedness Prize, which recognizes an innovation that seeks to improve the ability of the healthcare system to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as future infectious disease outbreaks.

• $2,500 Best Idea for Addressing Health Access and Disparities Prize, which recognizes a student innovation or intervention that seeks to close the gap in health disparities for low-income and disadvantaged groups by increasing access to point-of-care healthcare services and/or addressing systemic biases within the current healthcare system.

Teams who were not selected to advance in the Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge received valuable feedback from judges which could lead to success down the road if they choose to apply for the Dempsey Startup Competition or the Jones + Foster Accelerator.

Good luck to the 2021 competitors!

Active Steps for Kids
The Active Steps for Kids initiative aims to change the culture of physical activity during childhood, resulting in a healthier, more active next generation.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Business)

Community Collaboratory
Community Collaboratory is developing a unique website and mobile app combination that allows adults with physical disabilities to offer and receive safe and flexible social support.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Nursing, Biology)

Direct Dose
To reduce opioid use and improve pain management following spine surgery, Direct Dose has designed an implantable device that will deliver a patient-controlled dose of a local anesthetic from a pre-existing instrument.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Neurological Surgery, Mechanical Engineering)

EVBreathe
EVBreathe has developed a novel device that automatically deploys and navigates the airway for a patient.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering)

FreeFlow
FreeFlow has created an innovative catheter design that provides pediatric neurosurgeons a non-invasive method to reduce obstruction rates and save hundreds of thousands of dollars in associated surgeries.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Bioengineering)

lunarLacerations
lunerLacerations provides an efficient and effective way for cardiologists to reduce risks associated with heart valve replacement problems and related procedure issues.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Bioengineering)

Mask Seal Testing
An accurate mask seal test using thermal imaging that quickly and easily checks for leaks so healthcare workers can reduce the risk of viral spread.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering)

Nascent Diagnostics
Nascent Diagnostics is developing a biosensor array that allows for greater diagnostic power and immediate diagnosis and monitoring of various diseases through non-invasive and cost-effective means.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Materials Science & Engineering)

NeuroNewt
NeuroNewt is developing an innovative way to enhance nerve regeneration in the treatment of peripheral injuries.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Bioengineering)

ODEN Health Solutions
ODEN Health Solutions looks to reduce the number of deadly opioid overdoses that occur in people using drugs alone (which account for 70% of opioid deaths) through a standalone device that monitors users, detects overdoses, and alerts medical services of their location.

• Simon Fraser University-British Columbia (Biomedical Engineering)

OsmoProcessor
The OsmoProcessor concentrates and reconditions urine samples to improve the accuracy of a commonly used diagnostic device that looks for pathogens or biomarkers with the goal of cheaper point-of-care in low-resource settings.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Business)

Return to Life Rehab
Return to Life Rehab developed a device to ensure effective monitoring and recording of treatment progression for those suffering from a wrist or hand injury needing therapy after surgery.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Bioengineering)

SMER
SMER has developed a novel combination of systems with the goal of increasing the viability of cryopreserved cells, tissues, and organs so long-time preservation becomes possible.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Mechanical Engineering)

Sensit-IV
SENSIT-IV is a bedside diagnostic tool for targeted assessment of shock before, during, and after treatment to aid clinicians managing fluid therapy.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Mechanical Engineering)

SINEW Mask
A revolutionary PPE called the Smart Individualized Near-face Extended Wear (SINEW) Mask leverages electrohydrodynamic (EHD) technology to create a more effective, comfortable, and lighter PPE than commercially available options.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Informatics, Anthropology)

Sound Sustainability
Sound Sustainability describes their innovative approach to improving access for hearing impaired or challenged individuals through the creation of the “Warby Parker” of hearing aids.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Business, Global Innovation Exchange)

TrachTech
A novel device to reduce the risk of ventilator associated pneumonia and need for extubation.

• University of Washington-Seattle, Tulane University (Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering)

Under Pressure
Under Pressure is developing a non-invasive blood pressure monitor for the operating room that accurately and continuously monitors patient blood pressure.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Chemical, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering)

VivoLUX
VivoLUX is developing is a portable, low-cost vascular imaging device to reduce the impact of cardiovascular disease through better diagnosis, understanding, and earlier detection.

• Simon Fraser University-British Columbia (Applied Science)

Xpressive Tech
The Xpressive Tech Pain Diary Device (PDD) is a small wearable unit that ushers in the first major advance in pain assessment in decades through the use of mild electrical stimulus.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Business, Medicine)

Zephyr Sleep
The Zephyr Sleep system ensures that patients benefit from an improved emotional state due to higher quality rest.

• Washington State University (Engineering)

Alternates

Blue Fox Medical
An electronic health record that combines the ease and flexibility of paper charts with the powerful analytics of electronic charts through dictation and natural language processing.

• University of Washington-Seattle (Biomedical Informatics and Medical Education)