The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and VentureWell are pleased to announce the winners of the Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge! Fourteen winning projects and five honorable mentions won prizes totaling $190,000 for their solutions focused on improving real-world problems in healthcare by addressing pressing health and clinical challenges. Their promising innovations include a wearable solution to monitor breast tissue for early cancer detection, an augmented reality rehab system for patients with limb amputations, and a device for safer newborn lumbar punctures.
The DEBUT Challenge, managed by NIH’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and VentureWell, historically recognizes exceptional undergraduate innovation in biomedical design. VentureWell has supported the challenge for the past 10 years and rewards teams that have demonstrated excellence in engineering design (Design Excellence Prize), assessment of the commercialization landscape (Venture Prize), and innovations from new or non-R1 biomedical engineering (BME) programs (Rising Star Prize). These VentureWell prizes are aligned with VentureWell’s goals of empowering innovators and supporting ecosystems that solve pressing healthcare problems.
Now in its 14th year, the DEBUT Challenge calls on teams of undergraduate students to produce technological solutions to a broad spectrum of unmet health needs. Submissions were selected based on a demonstrated mastery of analytical and design skills and capabilities, the ability to manage the product development process, the ability to work effectively in teams, and technical communication skills. This year, 123 applications were submitted from 67 colleges and universities in 24 states, engaging a total of 534 students.
The awards will be presented to the winning teams during the annual Biomedical Engineering Society meeting, October 8-12 in San Diego, California.
The Steven H. Krosnick Prize (First Place): $20,000
ShockSense: Early Recognition of Pediatric Hemorrhagic Shock
Johns Hopkins University
Hemorrhagic shock is one of the leading causes of preventable death in pediatric trauma, yet its early recognition remains difficult. ShockSense is a clinician-centered device that provides automated, real-time shock index calculations tailored specifically for children’s physiology. ShockSense uses a machine learning algorithm trained on pediatric trauma cases to provide a high-visibility display with color-coded risk levels, real-time vitals, and transfusion likelihood scores that can be integrated with any hospital monitor. The system streamlines decision-making in high-pressure environments to fill one of pediatric emergency care’s most critical diagnostic gaps.
Team Captain: Eleanor Holtermann
Team Members: Isabella Godfrey, Vivien Jiang, Ashrith Kollu, Aditya Sinha, Shihan Wu
Faculty Sponsors: Constanza Miranda, Mark Slidell
Second Place Prize: $15,000
AV Fistula Thrill-o-meter
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
An arterovenous fistula (AVF) is a procedure that increases blood flow, reduces treatment time, and improves dialysis outcomes for patients with kidney disease. However, many AVFs fail, and there are currently no continuous monitoring methods for early detection of possible failures. The AV Fistula Thrill-o-meter is a sensor that monitors AVF health by detecting changes in localized vibrations and blood flow. The device has a companion app, allowing patients to monitor their AVF at home and seek preventative care if needed.
Team Captain: David Brokhin
Team Members: Jaehyeon Park, Seyeon Park, Jay Williams
Faculty Sponsor: David Wootton
Third Place Prize: $10,000
NeoTap
The University of Texas at Dallas
Lumbar punctures—or “spinal taps”—are difficult to perform on newborns due to the small space between their vertebrae. Currently, this procedure uses anatomical landmarks to estimate the best insertion site, which is unreliable and can result in needle contact with the bone. NeoTap is a handheld device that uses force sensors to alert the provider of the correct insertion spot by detecting the higher resistance of the bones of the spine and the lower resistance of the intervertebral spaces. When the sensors detect the least force, providers can insert the needle through the U-shaped slot between the probes.
Team Captain: Harkanwarveer Singh Kang
Team Members: Varun Gunda, Justine Heckler, Snehal Mazumder, Alexander Medina, Yash Narsian
Faculty Sponsor: Todd Polk
HIV/AIDS Prize: $15,000
SafeSpike
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
SafeSpike is a hypodermic needle attachment designed specifically to prevent needlestick injuries, a significant concern for nurses working in community settings such as schools, homes, and care facilities. Featuring a unique spherical, spiral spring mechanism shielding the needle, SafeSpike provides continuous protection during injections, crucial when treating anxious or unpredictable patients such as children, Alzheimer’s patients, or those in recovery from substance abuse. SafeSpike empowers nurses with safer tools, enhancing patient care and workplace safety. This prize was awarded with funds from the NIH Office of AIDS Research.
Team Captain: Kian Weihrauch
Team Members: Saif Alesawy, Nicholas Chan, Merrilees Craig, Sarah Horst, Liam Smith
Faculty Sponsor: Melissa Wrobel
Healthcare Technologies for Low-Resource Settings Prize $15,000
HemBrace
Cornell University
Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings where timely diagnosis and intervention are limited. Current estimation methods of blood loss are subjective and error-prone, which delays critical treatment. HemBrace is a low-cost, reusable, and smart hemorrhage triage system that integrates a calibrated flow rate sensor with a responsive compression belt to provide real-time, quantitative blood loss monitoring and automated pressure application. This device offers a scalable, non-invasive solution to reduce maternal mortality in underresourced healthcare environments. This prize was awarded with funds from the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities.
Team Captain: Dora John
Team Members: Saahil Joshi, Molly Matri, Saaya Nair, Megh Prajapati, Natalina Putrino, Nambita Sahai, Arielle Schwarzberg
Faculty Sponsor: James Francis Antaki
Technologies for Cancer Prevention, Diagnosis, or Treatment Prize: $15,000
DensiSense
Stevens Institute of Technology
DensiSense is a wearable health monitoring system that provides quantitative, at-home breast tissue assessment using artificial intelligence. It is designed for women with dense breast tissue, who face higher cancer risks and reduced imaging accuracy, and offers an additional layer of early detection between clinical screenings. The system includes tactile sensors inside an inflatable compression bra that simulates the breast palpation a clinician provides. A companion mobile app guides users through a 90-second scan and processes sensor data. By empowering users to track subtle changes in breast tissue, DensiSense addresses a critical gap in current breast cancer screening. This prize was awarded with funds from the National Cancer Institute.
Team Captain: Sonali Dalwadi
Team Members: Avery Aquino, Simran Salem
Faculty Sponsor: Sally Shady
Rehabilitative and Assistive Technologies Prize: $15,000
SimuStride
University of Miami
SimuStride is an augmented reality (AR) rehabilitation system designed to support lower-limb amputees during the critical recovery period following amputation. The system combines an AR-capable headset with a custom electromyography sleeve worn on the residual limb. By detecting muscle signals, SimuStride predicts the user’s intended movement and maps it onto a virtual prosthetic limb in real time. When users interact with virtual objects, they receive vibrational feedback in the sleeve. By allowing users to visualize, control, and feel a virtual leg that responds to their muscle signals, SimuStride supports neuroplasticity and primes users for a smoother transition to their physical prosthesis. The prize was awarded with funds from the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.
Team Captain: Benjamin Broyles
Team Members: Elissa Cimino, Aidan Scott-Van Deusen
Faculty Sponsor: Abhishek Prasad
Technologies to Empower Nurses in Community Settings Prize: $15,000
Scyntek Dvtect
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Deep vein thrombosis leads to serious complications like pulmonary embolisms. Early detection is critical, yet current diagnostic methods are costly and often inaccessible outside of hospitals. Scyntek Dvtect is a noninvasive, user-friendly solution for deep vein thrombosis detection. The device monitors superficial blood flow patterns to identify potential blockages, offering a faster, more accessible alternative to Doppler ultrasound. Scyntek aims to make high-quality vascular screening widely available and bridge the gap between clinical efficiency and patient accessibility. This prize was awarded with funds from the National Institute of Nursing Research.
Team Captain: Vignesh Sriram
Team Members: Bryce Mencihella, Karthik Ramakrishnan
Faculty Sponsors: Devin Hubbard, Mike Wilkins
Kidney Technology Development Prize: $15,000
DialySafe
Rice University
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a home-based renal replacement therapy that offers significant benefits over in-center hemodialysis, including lower cost, improved quality of life, and greater autonomy. Despite this, only about 10% of eligible patients use PD in the U.S., primarily due to infection risk. DialySafe is a two-part solution for prevention and early detection of infection. The first component is an automated connection rig to eliminate patient touch contamination; the second component is a non-invasive infection sensor that detects changes in dielectric properties of fluid. The DialySafe system reduces infection risk, simplifies PD workflow, and enables early clinical intervention, offering a safe, scalable, and cost-effective improvement to current PD care. This prize was awarded with funds from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Team Captain: Ibrahim Al-Akash
Team Members: Marc De Guzman, Shereena Johnson, Leora Maksoud, Vedha Penmetcha
Faculty Sponsors: Sabia Abidi, Kiara Lee
Technologies to Improve the Health of Women Prize: $15,000
The LidoSound
Clemson University
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are one of the most effective forms of contraception, reducing the risk of pregnancy by 99%. Despite this, patients are often deterred because of the sharp pain associated with the device insertion. When the IUD is inserted into the uterus, the arms of the IUD deploy into the surrounding tissues, causing intense cramping that can lead to vasovagal responses or “cervical shock.” Currently, physicians insert uterine sounds to measure uterine depth ahead of IUD placement. The LidoSound is an innovative adaptation to this device that enables it to simultaneously deliver lidocaine directly into the endometrial and cervical tissues. The LidoSound is the first device of its kind to combine uterine sounding with targeted anesthesia delivery, addressing a current gap in healthcare by enhancing patient comfort and clinical efficiency. The prize was funded from the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health.
Team Captain: Audreanna Miserendino
Team Members: Jade Bowers, Landon Ethredge, Samantha McNabb, David Polson
Faculty Sponsor: Tyler Harvey
Technologies to Foster Healthy Aging Prize: $15,000
CardioLink Technologies
Stevens Institute of Technology
CardioLink™ is a home-based cardiac monitoring device designed to reduce hospital readmissions in heart failure patients by making it simpler to adhere to guideline-directed medical therapy. Tailored for older adults, the system enables a five-minute daily check-in using biometric sensors and a patient-friendly touchscreen. The device uses a novel algorithm that consolidates biometric and behavioral data into a single, daily clinical stability score that can trigger alerts to providers for early intervention. CardioLink™ offers a scalable solution to improve outcomes in post-acute heart failure care. This prize was awarded with funds from the National Institute on Aging.
Team Captain: Robert Gordanier
Team Members: Rhys Robichaud, Panos Stamas
Faculty Sponsor: Peter Popolo
Venture Prize: $10,000, funded by VentureWell
The Epicardial Lead Adapter (ELA) System
Florida Gulf Coast University
The Epicardial Lead Adapter (ELA) System reimagines pediatric cardiac pacing for children who are too small or delicate for transvenous leads. Today, these children rely on outdated epicardial leads implanted through invasive open-chest surgery, often trading longevity and functionality for survival. The ELA System is a first-of-its-kind accessory kit that enables transvenous leads to be implanted epicardially, bringing modern pacing without the trauma of open surgery. The system includes a novel implant tool and a stabilizing collar that guides and secures the lead. The implant tool’s triple-shaft telescoping design allows for intuitive, staged deployment with tactile feedback for confident placement. The ELA System unlocks access to MRI-safe, steroid-eluting transvenous leads for children who previously had no viable option.
Team Captain: Charlee Dascani
Team Members: Annabelle Euliss, Alba Lako, Lea Zellner
Faculty Sponsor: Derek Lura
Design Excellence Prize: $5,000, funded by VentureWell
Innovative Textiles
Arizona State University and Scottsdale Community College
Innovative Textiles creates products that prioritize ease of use—especially for seniors, individuals with disabilities, and caregivers. Innovative Textiles’ Lazy Daisy Bed Sheets have a patent-pending Velcro design that allows users to make the bed without lifting the mattress, while maintaining the seamless look of a traditional fitted sheet. This innovation benefits both users who physically struggle with bed-making and healthcare workers who perform this task hundreds of times each week. This design reduces physical strain, prevents injury, and frees up time for better patient care.
Team Captain: Carsyn Schuch
Team Members: Courtney Connor, Ryan Schuch
Faculty Sponsors: Brent Sebold, Paniz Tavassoli
Rising Star Prize: $5,000, funded by VentureWell
BiliRoo
Calvin University
Moderate to severe jaundice in infants can lead to brain damage or death if left untreated. Infants in low-resource settings do not have reliable access to standard phototherapy machines, due to sporadic electricity in health facilities and the high cost of equipment. BiliRoo is an innovative infant sling featuring a clinically proven filtered sunlight phototherapy panel. Parents wear the sling outside and their baby receives both skin-to-skin contact and treatment for neonatal jaundice. BiliRoo is non-electric, easy-to-use, and can be manufactured for less than 1/20th the cost of conventional equipment.
Team Captain: Daniel John
Team Members: Chukwuemeka Anayo-Ezikeoha, Nathan Dapprich
Faculty Sponsor: Jon VerLee
Honorable Mention: $1,000
Flow IO: A Failsafe IO Needle
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Gaining vascular access is difficult in children, requiring an intraosseous (IO) needle drilled into the patient’s tibia to access the marrow cavity of the bone. However, current devices on the market can cause two severe complications: infiltration of fluids into surrounding tissue, and the needle moving during patient transport.The infiltration of fluids can cause tissue necrosis, while needle displacement delays life-saving care. The Flow IO needle is able to easily drill into the bone and securely stay in place until it needs to be removed. Flow IO features a mechanical shoulder to physically stop the needle from being placed too deep or shallow, preventing fluid infiltration. To prevent needle displacement, the top of the needle has self-tapping threads. This device is designed to improve the safety and clinical outcomes of this procedure for children.
Team Captain: Dilshan Rajan
Team Members: Anuk Dias, Shaliny Jadhav
Faculty Sponsor: Hubert Lim
Honorable Mention: $1,000
Hybrid Body Suit
Washington University in St Louis
The Hybrid Body Suit is a wearable assistive system designed to improve spatial awareness and mobility for individuals with blindness or visual impairments. The Hybrid Body Suit has a haptic vest and a vision module with a depth-sensing camera. The vest provides vibrational feedback in response to nearby obstacles, while the glasses estimate distance and identify spatial features such as stairs, railings, tables, and people. By combining real-time sensory input with intuitive feedback, the suit empowers users to navigate indoor spaces more safely and confidently. The device is lightweight, low-cost, and modular, making it adaptable to different needs and indoor settings.
Team Captain: Gaurish Agrawal
Team Members: Jacqueline Chuang, Lydia Mazeeva, Sonia Palamand, Max Saltrelli, Cadi Zhang, Leon Zhao
Faculty Sponsor: Yiannis Kantaros
Honorable Mention: $1,000
OraLyptus: Controlled Drug-Delivery Device for Tongue Oral Mucositis
Hofstra University
Oral mucositis is a painful and common side effect of cancer therapies that leads to inflammation and ulcers. OraLyptus is a patch designed to deliver rapid pain relief and anti-inflammatory medication directly to the affected tissues, while forming a protective barrier over lesions to minimize irritation. Made from flexible, biocompatible material, OraLyptus conforms to each patient’s tongue to ensure optimal contact and comfort. This affordable, personalized patch provides a novel, patient-friendly solution to managing oral mucositis in oncology care.
Team Captain: Evan Carroll
Team Members: Miko Amican, Anudamodaran Kumarakurup
Faculty Sponsor: Roche de Guzman
Honorable Mention: $1,000
VacuTrac
Rice University
Spinal fusion surgeries can last eight hours, with one hour dedicated to spinal dissection. The dissection phase requires two surgeons and three handheld tools, an inefficient process causing fatigue to the surgeon and more time under anesthesia. VacuTrac is a novel device that combines suction and retraction into one tool, allowing both surgeons to work more efficiently. At the press of a button, one surgeon can change the angle and extension of the suction tip while retracting the muscle. This one-handed device reduces the operation time by 30 minutes and could alleviate health risks for both patients and surgeons.
Team Captain: Sasha Keck
Team Members: Cameron Erber, Yeonju Kim, Eleanor Kimbro, Sophianne Loh, Luke Yuen
Faculty Sponsor: Sabia Abidi
Honorable Mention: $1,000
Velocigraft: Low-Cost Template for Rapid and Accurate Meshing of Autograft Skin in Surgical Burn Care
Johns Hopkins University
Over 95% of burn fatalities occur in resource-challenged environments that have limited access to expensive machine “meshers” for skin graft expansion. Surgeons in these settings rely on inaccurate manual expansion techniques when there is not enough healthy skin to use for regrowth. Velocigraft is an affordable, reusable template for manual skin graft meshing that uses standard surgical scalpels. The template can generate expansion comparable to machine meshing, for about 99% less cost per procedure. The device has stenciled cutting channels on the top plate and interlocking extrusions on the template interior for intuitive scalpel motion during cutting. The template requires no specialized training or maintenance, making it ideal for rural hospitals, military settings, and humanitarian missions where traditional meshing equipment is inaccessible.
Team Captain: Aarushi Pant
Team Members: Ojas Chahal, Ashley Cluff, Dalhart Dobbs, Thoya Raman, Paree Sharma, Aditya Shrinivasan, Christine Wang
Faculty Sponsor: Nicholas Durr