Waterloo student entrepreneur a finalist in national competition

Developing biochip designed to monitor surgery patients

WATERLOO — A University of Waterloo student working on an implantable biochip to detect complications after surgery will compete against other young Canadian entrepreneurs for a chance at $10,000.

“This would allow the patient to be monitored from the comfort of their own home,” said Amr Abdelgawad of the device.

He’s a finalist for the Enactus Canada Student Entrepreneur National Competition, and will be flown out to Vancouver with 11 other students to pitch his business, NERv Technology Inc., at the competition in May.

The implantable biochip he’s developing with another UW student uses embedded biosensors to identify complications after surgery such as internal bleeding and bacterial infection.

It would be placed close to the surgical site, either with a bioadhesive or sutures.

“At the end of the surgery, they would put in the device and stitch up the patient,” said Abdelgawad.

A patient could then be wirelessly monitored for the first couple months after surgery, and any problems would be detected early.

“That’s the critical period when a complication can happen,” said Abdelgawad.

The ultimate goal is to prevent serious postoperative issues that can lead to coma or death.

“A lot of complications go undetected within the first 24 hours,” said Abdelgawad, who completed an undergraduate degree in nanotechnology engineering and is pursuing a master’s degree in business entrepreneurship and technology.

The device, about one centimetre by two, could also shorten a patient’s stay in hospital and reduce further tests, such as CT scans and blood tests, or even followup surgery.

“We want to try and reduce and eliminate some of those tests,” Abdelgawad said.

They have a prototype and are working on miniaturizing sensors and the wireless component. It’s hoped animal trials will start next year.

Abdelgawad is looking forward to the competition and meeting other students pursuing their own businesses. “It should be an experience that’s interesting.”

Another Waterloo student will also be competing. Abdelhamid El Bably will pitch Altius Analytics Labs, a health tech startup that aims to help occupational groups prevent workplace musculoskeletal injuries.