The realm of health technology is evolving at an unprecedented pace, introducing everything from innovative baby thermometers to sophisticated AI-generated digital twins.
At the Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, a host of startups from various countries unveiled groundbreaking advancements poised to transform our approach to medical treatment, monitoring, and disease prevention.
These pioneering companies are reshaping our understanding of health and medicine. Here are some of their remarkable innovations:
Mitigating Side Effects
Chemotherapy, a standard treatment for cancer, is often accompanied by severe side effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, and hair loss.
To address this issue, New York-based BioSapien is in the process of developing a 3D-printed biodegradable mesh that targets chemotherapy drugs directly at tumors, minimizing negative effects on healthy tissues.
They are set to initiate their first human clinical trials in Abu Dhabi shortly. Joseph Borrelo, CTO of BioSapien, stated that they are collaborating with the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi to progress to this next stage.
He added, “You’ll reap the benefits of chemotherapy without the adverse effects. Our animal pre-clinical tests have shown promising results, and we’re excited to implement this during our first human trial.”
Creating a Biological Twin
Two innovative startups are changing the way we perceive personal health data by creating visual representations known as digital twins.
BioTwin generates virtual counterparts of individuals using only a few drops of blood, combined with information from wearable devices and health records.
“Employing artificial intelligence, we can monitor up to 200,000 diverse biomarkers,” remarked Noel. These samples are taken regularly to create what he dubs a “virtual twin,” which aids in the early identification of health issues.
In another approach, eMedSupport utilizes AI to enhance care for cardiovascular patients. Developed by cardiologist Dr. Denis, this system constructs digital patient profiles by analyzing electronic health records against established clinical guidelines. It assists healthcare providers in evaluating risk factors, modifying treatment strategies, and even forecasting patient outcomes over time.
“Managing a patient with multiple health issues can be challenging,” he noted. “This platform simplifies the process of determining the most suitable treatment path.” With support from prominent health institutions in the Gulf region, eMedSupport is also collaborating with Cleveland Clinic to develop predictive models for cholesterol levels and disease progression.
Affordable Prosthetics
Truelimbs specializes in crafting artificial limbs for individuals needing mobility assistance. Unlike typical prosthetic companies, Truelimbs focuses on providing affordable solutions.
Mansour Hamada, the founder and CEO, mentioned that their prosthetics range from “$5,000 to $10,000, depending on the specifications, whereas the typical market cost is between $50,000 and $70,000.
The Egyptian entrepreneur has dedicated 19 years to this project, aiming to ensure that prosthetic options are affordable for all. “Since the markets in Egypt and the UAE are competitive, many individuals cannot afford these prosthetic limbs. Our goal is to make them accessible,” he explained.
He detailed that the process for acquiring a prosthetic limb involves several stages, beginning with an initial consultation, followed by the creation of a mock limb using a 3D printer, and concluding with training for the individual to acclimate to their new limb.
Wearable Thermometer for Infants
Caring for an infant can be daunting, particularly when faced with a high fever. Serbian startup BabyFM seeks to alleviate this concern with a wearable thermometer that continuously tracks the child’s temperature and sends real-time notifications to an app. By securely attaching the device to the baby’s body in a gentle manner, it can frequently relay data to the BabyFM application, even generating a graph of temperature fluctuations.
Co-founder Dr. Dzihan Abazovic said, “This product was designed to aid parents, particularly those with their first child, who find it difficult to get restful sleep when their baby is unwell.” Although the product has yet to launch in the UAE, Abazovic indicated it would be available by early June.
Hind Aldah
Hind Aldah writes about business, technology, and finance, engaging a younger audience. In her free time…More