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2019 DEBUT Challenge Award Ceremony

The winners of the 8th annual Design by Biomedical Undergraduate Teams (DEBUT) Challenge were awarded $80,000 in prizes during a ceremony at the Biomedical Engineering Society meeting in Philadelphia, PA. The winning teams developed simple but effective solutions that can make a significant difference for patients.  The Challenge is jointly supported by the NIBIB, the NIH Office of AIDS Research, and VentureWell, a non-profit higher-education network that cultivates revolutionary ideas and promising inventions. Details about each winning project can be found on the 2019 DEBUT Challenge page.

Bruce Tromberg (left), Director of NIBIB, and Phil Weilerstein of VentureWell present the 2019 DEBUT Challenge awards.
Bruce Tromberg (left), Director of NIBIB, and Phil Weilerstein of VentureWell present the 2019 DEBUT Challenge awards.
Second-place was awarded to the team from Georgia Tech for developing a rapid, portable C diff test. Left to Right: Bruce Tromberg, Madhumita Baskaran, Pranav Dorbala, Phil Weilerstein
Second-place was awarded to the team from Georgia Tech for developing a rapid, portable C diff test. Left to Right: Bruce Tromberg, Madhumita Baskaran, Pranav Dorbala, Phil Weilerstein
First-place prize was renamed this year to the Steven H. Krosnick prize and was awarded to the team from Columbia University for an intubation guidance system. Left to Right: Bruce Tromberg, Amy Wu, Lisa Krosnick, Matt Lavine, Miriam Saffern, Phyllis Lavine, Jeff Lavine.
First-place prize was renamed this year to the Steven H. Krosnick prize and was awarded to the team from Columbia University for an intubation guidance system. Left to Right: Bruce Tromberg, Amy Wu, Lisa Krosnick, Matt Lavine, Miriam Saffern, Phyllis Lavine, Jeff Lavine.
Third-place was awarded to the team from Carnegie Mellon University that developed a useful tracheostomy attachment. L-R: Zeynep Erim (Director, NIBIB Training Division), Conrad Zapanta, Gaurav Balakrishnan, Allison Caron, Tala Habbab, Tahj Spigner
Third-place was awarded to the team from Carnegie Mellon University that developed a useful tracheostomy attachment. L-R: Zeynep Erim (Director, NIBIB Training Division), Conrad Zapanta, Gaurav Balakrishnan, Allison Caron, Tala Habbab, Tahj Spigner
Georgia Tech students Bailey Klee and Rachel Mann (second and third from right), part of the team that won the HIV Prize are joined (L-R) by James Rains, Pranav Dorbala, and Madhumita Baskaran (2nd place winners from Georgia Tech) and Zeynep Erim, Director, NIBIB Training Program (far right).
Georgia Tech students Bailey Klee and Rachel Mann (second and third from right), part of the team that won the HIV Prize are joined (L-R) by James Rains, Pranav Dorbala, and Madhumita Baskaran (2nd place winners from Georgia Tech) and Zeynep Erim, Director, NIBIB Training Program (far right).
A VenureWell prize was awarded to a Stanford team for developing an assistive device to help women self-insert catheters correctly. Left to Right: Phil Weilerstein, Maria Iglesias, Amanda Urke, Isaac Justice, Gabe Ho.
A VenureWell prize was awarded to a Stanford team for developing an assistive device to help women self-insert catheters correctly. Left to Right: Phil Weilerstein, Maria Iglesias, Amanda Urke, Isaac Justice, Gabe Ho.
Students Xavier Peralta and Amanda Chernick of Virginia Tech won the VentureWell Design Excellence prize for developing a compact and supportive arm exoskeleton that can be worn under a shirt. They are pictured here with NIBIB Director Dr. Bruce Tromberg
Students Xavier Peralta and Amanda Chernick of Virginia Tech won the VentureWell Design Excellence prize for developing a compact and supportive arm exoskeleton that can be worn under a shirt. They are pictured here with NIBIB Director Dr. Bruce Tromberg
Mia Saade, Columbia University is awarded a Honorable Mention by Dr. Bruce Tromberg for her team’s device to detect subclinical mastitis in breastfeeding mothers.
Mia Saade, Columbia University is awarded a Honorable Mention by Dr. Bruce Tromberg for her team’s device to detect subclinical mastitis in breastfeeding mothers.
Standard student Mark Buckup was part of a team that developed a device to detect peritonitis earlier than the current standard of care. Dr. Bruce Tromberg awards the team a Honorable Mention prize.
Standard student Mark Buckup was part of a team that developed a device to detect peritonitis earlier than the current standard of care. Dr. Bruce Tromberg awards the team a Honorable Mention prize.
Dr. Bruce Tromberg welcomes attendees to the NIBIB-sponsored lecture at the 2019 Biomedical Engineering Society annual meeting.
Dr. Bruce Tromberg welcomes attendees to the NIBIB-sponsored lecture at the 2019 Biomedical Engineering Society annual meeting.
Dr. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Malcolm Gillis University Professor, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University gives the NIBIB-sponsored keynote lecture on Global Bioengineering Partnerships to Improve Health in Medically Underserved Communities
Dr. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, Malcolm Gillis University Professor, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University gives the NIBIB-sponsored keynote lecture on Global Bioengineering Partnerships to Improve Health in Medically Underserved Communities
Dr. Rebecca Richards Kortum and Dr. Bruce Tromberg
Dr. Rebecca Richards Kortum and Dr. Bruce Tromberg