The all-female founding team behind Project Clear celebrated its victory at LifeSciKY’s Student Bioinnovation Summit, taking home the $10,000 grand prize to advance product development of a disposable speculum.
Dozens of college-aged entrepreneurs gathered at Covington’s SparkHaus on Nov. 6, to pitch their early-stage medical device startups to a panel of judges, with the prize money funding the early-stage development of their products. The competition was hosted by LifeSciKY, a Northern Kentucky-based nonprofit that provides laboratory space, resources and business support to life sciences startups across the state
Caroline Endres, Maggie Matsuka, Lily Peters, and Kathryn Schoeny, the co-founders of Project Clear, are fourth-year students at the University of Cincinnati. What began as a senior design project has evolved into a startup developing a disposable speculum, a medical device that gently widens a body opening or passage, allowing doctors to see inside and perform pelvic examinations or treatments.
“Together, we bring about eight years of combined college experience across product design, manufacturing, and work within the medical device industry,” Peters said. “We want to see this go as far as we can.”
During pelvic exams, physicians need a clear view of the cervix and vaginal walls to accurately assess patients. However, this view can be obstructed by blood and other bodily fluids. To clear the way, physicians traditionally remove obstructions manually with gauze or cotton swabs.
“The result of this is longer exam times, increased discomfort for the patient, increased waste, and most importantly, a decrease in emergency efficiency when time is most critical,” Endres said.
The foursome’s disposable speculum combines a fluid collection basin, vacuum-controlled suction, an ergonomic handle, a locking mechanism and built-in lighting, making it easier for physicians to maintain a clear view during exams. The team estimated the device’s manufacturing cost of $2 per unit and a selling price of $7, producing a gross margin of about 70%.
The team has already consulted with gynecologists at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, who have provided feedback on the device’s design.
In addition to Project Clear, five other entrepreneurs and startup teams presented their business concepts during the pitch competition.
Hady Sabra, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, presented a genetic test designed to assess a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The technology analyzes genetic mutations to generate a risk score, potentially helping physicians identify patients at greater risk of developing the disease earlier in life.
Precisionject, developed by University of Louisville medical students Justin Houts and Kieran Richard, is a reusable, rechargeable syringe attachment designed to improve accuracy and stability during medical procedures involving needles. The device allows physicians to operate a syringe with one hand while reducing unintended needle movement, potentially lowering the risk of complications.
Maribeth Stafford, a University of Kentucky medical student and Northern Kentucky native, proposed establishing a medical practice to help cancer patients safely use cannabis to manage symptoms associated with their illness and treatment. The practice would combine physician consultations, research-based dosing recommendations and remote patient monitoring.
Varun Kalaiarasan, a University of Cincinnati Ph.D. student, founded GlottIQ, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze video and audio recordings of patients' vocal cords. The technology is designed to help physicians assess voice disorders using measurable data rather than relying primarily on subjective clinical observations.
The final presentation came from Osteopod, a medical device concept developed by Joanna Kajal, Sahana Gopinathan and Eesha Madam. The device is designed for people living with ostomies, surgically created openings that allow bodily waste to exit the body into a collection pouch. Osteopod would replace traditional ostomy bags with a reusable outer shell and disposable cartridges, allowing patients to dispose of waste without manually emptying a pouch.
