MSIP’s Entrepreneurship Updates: Pitch Challenge Winners, Upcoming Program Dates, and More
August 07, 2024Discover the winners of the Mount Sinai Pitch Challenge and learn about MSIP’s Entrepreneurship Program, including how to apply for the upcoming cycle!
The MSIP Entrepreneurship Program helps to equip innovators with the skills to identify unmet healthcare needs and develop innovative solutions. From February – May 2024, participants in the , the second part of the Program following the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, further developed their technologies, business models, and pitch decks. Finalists capped off the Launchpad by competing in MSIP’s annual Mount Sinai Pitch Challenge where they went head-to-head for cash prizes to advance their projects.
This cycle was the first time MSIP and the Center for Engineering and Precision Medicine (CEPM) worked together to create a dedicated CEPM track for the Pitch Challenge. CEPM teams were comprised of at least one member from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Icahn Mount Sinai) and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI).
Take a look at this year’s winners!
Meet the Pitch Challenge CEPM Track Winners
- Poly(pro-boldine): A novel biomaterial for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment, led by Mustafa Siddiq, PhD, Research Assistant Professor at Icahn Mount Sinai.
Project Description: This project focuses on using boldine, a compound that has shown promise in promoting locomotor function recovery in pre-clinical studies, for the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI). It aims to address the currently untreatable condition of SCI, offering potential improvements in patient quality of life and reduced healthcare costs.
- SEIZEAR: A device for seizure detection, led by “Andy” Ho Wing Chan, MD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Mount Sinai
Project Description: SeizEar is an in-ear device designed for the detection, diagnosis, and monitoring of temporal lobe seizures. It aims to address the limitations of traditional ambulatory EEG systems, such as discomfort and the need for a technician. The device uses electrodes placed in the ear to provide better signal quality, focusing specifically on capturing temporal lobe activity, aiming to offer a more convenient and cost-effective solution for monitoring epilepsy patients, particularly in non-clinical settings.
- Seizurescope: A wearable EEG monitoring device, led by Lara Marcuse, MD, Associate Professor Neurology and Co-Director, Mount Sinai Epilepsy Program, and Bülent Yener, PhD, Founding Director, Data Science Research Center and Professor of Computer Science at RPI
Project Description: Seizurescope is a low-power, wearable device designed for continuous EEG monitoring and real-time seizure prediction for epilepsy patients. The device utilizes advanced AI and machine learning algorithms to provide non-intrusive, daily monitoring and enhance patient safety. It aims to predict seizures with greater accuracy, thereby offering patients more independence and reducing the need for constant medical supervision. The Seizurescope project also explores a subscription-based business model, providing analytics and seizure alerts to users and integrating data with healthcare systems for comprehensive patient care.
MSIP Entrepreneurship Program*: Next Cycle
The next program cycle begins on Thursday, September 12, 2024. Register by Friday, August 30 at 11:59pm ET.
Program Impact
The MSIP Entrepreneurship and Fellows Programs provide participants with industry-relevant skills and experience, paving the way for career advancement. These programs significantly contribute to the development of innovative healthcare solutions and technologies, benefiting Mount Sinai and the broader healthcare community.
For more information, visit the MSIP Entrepreneurship Program and MSIP Fellows Program pages and join us in our mission to drive healthcare innovation forward.
*The MSIP Entrepreneurship Program is open to members of the Mount Sinai community only.