LEAPS at the Beehive!
For the past 5 years, CMDT and now Te Tītoki Mataora (TTM), have been a major funder of the research conducted at the University of Canterbury Bioengineering Lab, be it research grants, or commercialisation funding. In particular, the non-invasive glucose sensor has been supported from seed to commercialisation. Without this funding, our research research would not have advanced as far nor as fast towards our goal of providing low cost diabetes care available to all.
CMDT provided support across these years with multiple avenues of funding:
2018-2019 Initial CMDT MedTech CoRE PhD funding to develop a light based glucose sensor and attend MedTech CoRE workshops and conferences.
2020-2022 MedTech Core Seed funding awarded $40k to run a preliminary adult trial and NICU trial in Middlemore and Auckland Hospital.
2023-2024 Te Tītoki Mataora Research Acceleration Program (RAP stage III) funding for $100k to begin development of the non invasive glucose sensor for clinical validation and for community collaboration.
2025 - 2027 RAP Stage III provided regulatory mentoring for commercialisation as part of LEAPS with the goal to provide a low-cost artificial pancreas.
When TTM reached out to invite LEAPS to present at the Beehive Innovation Showcase, the team jumped at the opportunity. Dr Grace Walker, Dr Lui Holder-Pearson and Dr Jake Campbell hosted a LEAPS booth displaying our insulin pumps and the glucose sensor used in our proof of concept trial in the NICU. Dr Jessica Fitzjohn also attended for a different project, relating to her research developing a non-invasive breast cancer screening device (you can find more at tiromedical.com).
Lui Holder-Pearson arriving at the Beehive to setup the LEAPS stall.
The event celebrated the medtech innovation across the motu, launching the next stage in New Zealand’s MedTech innovation - Medtech iQ Aotearoa. Medtech iQ Aotearoa is a national innovation hub, enabling faster scaling and acceleration of research translation, commercialisation and company growth.
Lui, Geoff and Jake at the LEAPS booth
LEAPS made great connections at this event, and are grateful to TTM for inviting us and allowing us to show off our tech and we look forward to attending events later in the year.
Jake, Grace and Lui
09/03/2023