MIT bio-hackathon seeks to uncover treatments for patients

Seeking to uncover treatment outcomes for patients, Ireland’s first world renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) ‘Hacking Medicine’ event took place at DCU Alpha (Dublin City University’s Innovation Campus), over the weekend.

3R, a post-stroke recovery and rehabilitation platform which through a user-friendly remote device application that guides, assists and monitors the rehabilitation of stroke victims in their own homes, beat off strong competition from eight other teams to claim the top spot. The team behind the project intend to meet with the relevant stakeholders including patient groups to see how the concept could be rolled out in the near future.

Over 100 participants took part in the Hackathon organised in partnership with DCU Alpha as part of the Dublin 2016 International Biopharma Ambition Convention.

The nine teams, were supported by 37 mentors from a variety of sectors including biopharma, health, technology, software and others, and worked throughout the weekend to develop solutions to provide patients with better treatment outcomes as well as specific areas such as better drug logistics and waste management, more effective doctor-patient interaction and a better overall patient experience. The judging panel for the event included John Pugh, Accenture Digital UK & Ireland Innovation Lead for Life Sciences, Kieran Daly, CTO & Co-Founder at Health Beacon, Audrey McDonnell, CEO & Founder of Vanguard Health and Gerald Kierans, Director of Technical Services at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals.

Other project ideas included:

• Safe-Hands, a smart hand sanitising system which took second place overall in the competition
• Sun, Sea & Surgery, a pan European bed shortage solution which took third place

Commenting at the event, MIT Hacking Medicine Co-Director, Khalil Ramadi said; “We were delighted to bring the MIT Hacking Medicine concept to Ireland for the first time, and have to commend all of the teams that participated. Each came with great ideas and worked all weekend to deliver really impressive concepts and pitches.”

Ronan Furlong, CEO DCU Alpha added; “We are delighted with the first ever MIT Hacking Medicine event to be held here in Ireland. The teams, supported ably by a prestigious panel of mentors worked around the clock from Friday evening to develop concepts and prototypes which are of a really high standard. We would like to congratulate our winning team, on their innovative approach to the post-stroke rehabilitation process, which has the potential for time and money savings and in reducing the numbers of in-patients.

The Hackathon is part of the Dublin 2016 International Biopharma Ambition Convention, organised by Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), BioPharmaChem Ireland (BPCI) and the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), and takes place from 21st– 2nd September.

Commenting on the event, on behalf BioPharma Ambition Convention, Matt Moran, Director of BioPharmaChem Ireland added; “The biopharma industry in Ireland is all about innovation, with over 25,000 talented people within the industry in Ireland, delivering innovative solutions to patients both here and globally. We are delighted to have MIT Hacking Medicine and DCU Alpha work with us on this event to demonstrate innovation in this sector at its best, with the ultimate goal to improve patients’ lives.”