Knipmeyer, Naber Selected in Entrepreneur Competition

Daniel Knipmeyer and Andrew Naber, undergraduate seniors in Bioengineering, were selected as University of Illinois finalists in the “I2P” (Idea to Product) competition sponsored by the Technology Entrepreneur Center. Their winning idea is a bandage-like patch for quick, convenient diagnosis of diseases. The technology employed scales down and simplifies existing large-scale laboratory analyses into an accurate, intuitive, and easy-to-apply patch. “Our device will put the power of complicated laboratory analyses that would normally require specialized training and expensive equipment into the hands of those that need it most,” explained Knipmeyer.

He adds: “With this patch, no training is required to simultaneously diagnose a multitude of diseases, ranging from those plaguing developing nations to those with a potential for social embarrassment. The technology utilized in the patch runs without any user interaction, and a simple color change on the surface indicates a positive or negative result.”

They will take their I2P entry to the next round of competition at St. Louis University during the spring semester.