2-min read

NeuroBell | Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars

Founded by Mark O’Sullivan, NeuroBell is developing a solution to improve outcomes in healthcare for newborns globally. Mark is a Ph.D. student in engineering with the INFANT Research Centre and the Embedded Systems Research Group in University College Cork (UCC), Ireland. UCC is a member of the Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars network. Recently, Mark was selected the 2020 UCC Entrepreneur of the Year.

Newborn brain injury accounts for 23% of all infant deaths and results in over 1 million cases of permanent disability each year. The window in which treatment is effective in improving the outcomes for many of these babies is within just six hours of birth, but diagnosing newborn brain injury is notoriously difficult. It requires EEG monitoring, which relies on equipment and expertise that is not readily available across hospitals. Where it is available, the procedure suffers from long delays, often resulting in delayed or undiagnosed injuries, leading to worse patient outcomes.

Transformative Potential

Neurobell is a pocket-sized and wireless EEG monitor that provides medical staff with real-time diagnostic decision support. It can be used by any member of the medical staff team, in any setting. It is a novel device that has the potential to significantly improve quality-of-care for newborns around the globe. 

The brain monitoring market is estimated to be worth $4.7 billion globally with an annual growth rate of 6.9% per annum. Medical negligence claims due to newborn brain injury consistently account for over half of health services’ litigation costs every year. In Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, this results in annual litigation costs of approximately €115 million, £2 billion, and $6 billion, respectively. Neurobell can facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnoses, leading to quicker interventions and improved outcomes. In essence, Neurobell will transform neonatal healthcare by reducing delayed and undiagnosed cases of brain injury, which comes with the added benefit of dramatically lowering litigation costs for healthcare providers.

UCC’s INFANT Research Centre

Neurobell has benefitted from years of ground-breaking clinical research conducted by the INFANT Research Centre in developing novel diagnostic solutions for newborn healthcare. The INFANT Research Centre is a global leader in maternal and child health research. A number of prototypes, including novel hardware and software designs, have already been developed. Significant work has been conducted in ensuring the design is fit for clinical use and meets user needs, quality, and regulatory standards. The team expects to have a manufactured, packaged, and tested device ready for clinical investigation within the next 12 months.

At an early stage in his Ph.D., Mark recognized the commercial potential of Neurobell and his aspiration is to ensure that Neurobell’s benefits extend beyond the academic environment. 

Blackstone LaunchPad powered by Techstars

UCC offers a wealth of support for students and staff that are keen to explore the  merits of their respective propositions and to develop critical entrepreneurial skills that assist them in bringing their ideas from concept to commercial reality. Mark’s first foray into entrepreneurial life was when he completed GatewayUCC’s Sprint Programme in 2018. Mark is currently a member of UCC’s IGNITE Graduate Business Innovation Programme, a 12-month programme that supports university-based start-ups, and is also receiving support from LaunchPad at UCC. 

Mark was awarded the 2020 UCC Entrepreneur of the Year Award in March, which was coordinated on campus by LaunchPad at UCC. The prestigious award has further convinced Mark of the significant commercial potential of Neurobell globally.

Read More