Tools created by college undergraduates that help identify Alzheimer's disease and latent tuberculosis were recognized in the Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) contest.
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and VentureWell chose three winning teams from groups representing 22 universities from 16 states that turned in 41 contenders. The teams were chosen by determining the significance of the disorder, how designs would affect doctors' work and whether they could show a working prototype.
The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering awarded the $20,000 top prize to University of Maryland undergraduates who created a device that aids in diagnosing Alzheimer's disease.
VentureWell chose two more groups by determining the commercial viability of the teams' devices and the chances of getting a patent. VentureWell gave a Venture Prize worth $15,000 to George Mason University undergraduates who created a device that aids in diagnosing tuberculosis that hasn't been found yet.
Additionally, the $5,000 Design Excellence award was given to a Johns Hopkins University team that created a discreet nasal dilator that helps with breathing.
The groups will receive their prizes in a celebration Oct. 12 at the Biomedical Engineering Society conference in Phoenix.
The National Institutes of Health, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering and VentureWell sponsor the DEBUT contest, which gives out winnings valued at $65,000. The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering partnered with VentureWell for the second year.
