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Gemma Tria

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Diabetes patient creates Nido, a device to simplify daily insulin injections

nido (neat insulin daily organiser) was created directly from Zoey Chan’s own daily struggle with Type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at 20, she suddenly had to inject insulin three to five times a day, often in public, while carrying loose needles, pens, caps, and used sharps that needed proper disposal in hard, puncture-resistant containers. The process felt “awkward, messy and isolating” and she found herself digging through her bag, fumbling with small components, and even resorting to using a spectacles case because nothing on the market was compact or organised enough.

CareYaya - An affordable home care solution inspired by a family’s own needs

CareYaya is a digital care platform created to make non-medical home care for older adults more accessible, affordable and dependable. It connects families with college students studying nursing, pre-med, psychology and other health-related fields, offering a reliable pool of motivated caregivers who provide companionship, daily living assistance and in-home support.

13 year-old Kevin Tang creates home fall-detection system to protect his grandmother

Kevin Tang, a 13-year-old eighth-grader from Southern California, created FallGuard, a fall-detection system designed to protect his grandmother and other older adults. Kevin was inspired after his grandmother suffered a fall at home five years earlier; no one noticed immediately, and by the time help arrived, she was left with permanent brain damage. When a friend’s grandfather later experienced a similar fall, Kevin realized how common and dangerous these situations are.

Seeing for the Blind, a teen-developed wearable navigation device for the visually Impaired

Motivated by the fact that nearly 90% of the world’s visually impaired population lives in developing countries with limited access to assistive technologies, ate age of 14, Sidharth Anantha set out to create an affordable and portable solution. His idea emerged during a flight to India, when he noticed a woman using her cane to count seat rows—an observation that inspired him to design a hands-free navigation device for blind individuals.

At just 5 years old, Vennela invented a teddy bear to help her sleep

When kindergartener Vennela Attili struggled to fall asleep on her own, her mother would sit beside her, gently patting her back until she drifted off. But often, her mother would fall asleep first, leaving Vennela still wide awake.

Jen Rose, IBD patient and mother of a young patient, creates journal for youth living with IBD

“Me (and IBD)” is a colouring journal designed specifically for young people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Created by Jen Rose, an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patient, parent, and patient advocate, this journal helps young patients take their first steps toward becoming informed, confident individuals who can live well with a chronic disease.

CBE Student Ismael Valadez creates automatic medication dispenser based on his experience helping his mother

When Ismael Valadez was just 10 years old, he became the main caregiver for his mother as she went through cancer treatment. Too weak from radiation to open her pill bottles, she depended on him to make sure she took the right medications at the right time. Years later, as a college student at the University of Idaho’s College of Business and Economics (CBE), Valadez teamed up with his friend Austen Reagan, who had faced a similar challenge helping his girlfriend manage her own medications.

Parents create Mejo App to simplify managing their son’s rare disease journey

Mejo is a mobile app designed to help caregivers manage medical records for their loved ones, particularly children with rare diseases. It was created with the aim of simplifying the overwhelming process of handling health-related information, which can often be scattered across various platforms and providers.

Sexual assault survivor Amanda Nguyen creates Rise, an organization for survivor rights

Rise began as a response to a deeply personal experience with systemic failure. After surviving sexual assault while in college, Amanda Nguyen encountered major gaps in how the U.S. legal and healthcare systems handled survivors’ rights. One of the most distressing issues she faced was the lack of uniformity in how different states managed the preservation of rape kits—the medical evidence collected after an assault, which often includes DNA samples and other crucial forensic details.

Hands-free drinking system for patients, from a patient

In 2005, after undergoing spinal surgery, Mark Moran faced an unexpectedly common yet serious problem: staying hydrated. With limited mobility, simple actions like reaching for a water glass became difficult. The water jug beside his hospital bed was often out of reach, empty, or too heavy to manage without assistance. This experience left him vulnerable to dehydration.

A sister's need, a global solution - the personal story behind Coloplast

In 1954, a simple yet transformative idea was born out of a deep personal need. Thora Sørensen, a 32-year-old woman from Denmark, had undergone a life-saving ostomy surgery after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. While the operation preserved her life, it also left her feeling isolated. The ostomy devices available at the time were unreliable, often leading to leaks and discomfort. This fear of accidents in public kept Thora confined to her home, limiting her ability to engage with the world.

Endometriosis patient creates solution to accelerate diagnosis

For millions of women around the world, chronic pelvic pain is a silent struggle, often taking years—sometimes over a decade—to receive a proper diagnosis. This delay not only prolongs suffering but also affects daily life, mental health, and overall well-being. Margaret Melville, an endometriosis patient, knows this firsthand. For over a decade, she endured symptoms that were frequently dismissed, misdiagnosed, or inadequately treated. Frustrated by the lack of clear answers and meaningful support, she recognized an urgent need for change.

Tommy Rosen’s Recovery 2.0 - a solution that brings a holistic approach to addiction recovery

Recovery 2.0 is an approach to addiction recovery created by Tommy Rosen, based on his personal experience with addiction. After finding traditional recovery models insufficient, Rosen developed a program that integrates yoga, meditation, breathwork, holistic nutrition, and community support to provide a more comprehensive path to healing. This approach goes beyond just overcoming addiction, aiming to help individuals build a fulfilling and thriving life after recovery.

Cancer patient’s friend creates Savor Health, a solution for managing nutrition in cancer and other conditions

Savor Health provides a solution designed to support cancer patients and individuals with chronic diseases by offering personalized nutrition guidance. The platform addresses the specific nutritional needs of people facing conditions like cancer by delivering medically tailored meals and providing real-time nutrition advice. The service aims to help patients manage symptoms and improve health outcomes through nutrition.

FormScore - a patient-driven app for tracking mental health, supporting workplace well-being, and fostering connections

During his mental health journey, Rob discovered a simple yet powerful tool from a therapist—a score out of 10 to track his emotional well-being. This method became invaluable in managing his mental health. In 2019, he began sharing his daily score publicly in his email signature and on LinkedIn. The overwhelming response revealed its potential to foster support and conversation, inspiring Rob to develop it into a digital platform: FormScore.

Diabetic Patient Farhaneh Ahmadi Develops eddii - a gamified app for diabetes management and education

eddii is a digital health platform designed to make managing diabetes easier, more interactive, and more accessible. Originally developed for children and later expanded to adults, the app integrates with Dexcom continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to provide real-time tracking, interactive games, educational quizzes, and personalized health insights.

Ben's Friends - a peer-to-peer support platform for patients with rare diseases

Ben’s Friends started as an initiative born from a personal need: the desire for emotional connection and guidance during Ben’s recovery from a life-threatening brain hemorrhage. After realizing that others who had gone through similar experiences could offer the support he so desperately needed, Ben created an online community where AVM (Arteriovenous malformation) survivors could share their stories, challenges, and coping mechanisms.

Families’ approach to finding a cure for CMD

Cure CMD’s solution is based on the direct experiences of three families affected by Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD), a group of rare genetic disorders that cause muscle weakness from birth and can lead to a range of other physical and neurological impairments. CMD results from mutations in one of more than 30 genes, which cause muscles to deteriorate faster than the body can repair them.

Will Golding’s Ignition Gamers initiative for neurodiverse young adults struggling with social isolation

Ignition Gamers, founded by Will Golding and his mother Claire, is a video gaming space designed specifically for young neurodiverse adults, particularly for those who struggle with isolation and social interaction. The initiative provides a unique environment where social therapy and gaming intersect, addressing a key gap left by inadequate NDIS (Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme) support.

AV1, a Norweagian robot to fight isolation for children with illnesses

The result of Karen’s vision is AV1, a telepresence robot designed to combat the isolation experienced by children who are unable to attend school due to illness. Developed over many months with the help of a dedicated team including children, teachers, scientists, and healthcare professionals, the AV1 robot allows children to connect to their schools through an app that controls the robot. This connection ensures that children can continue their education alongside their peers, participate in class, and remain socially engaged despite their physical absence.

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