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Participants in the 2026 competition
Neovations Bench to Bedside
Quick links for NEOvations Bench to Bedside
In NEOMED’s NEOvations Bench to Bedside competition, students and professionals collaborate to develop medical innovations from concept to prototype. Open to all disciplines, this journey culminates in a showcase for judges and investors. Top teams earn prizes ranging from $10,000 to $1,000 to invest in their innovations.
Nurture your entrepreneurial mindset
Our seven-month NEOvations Bench to Bedside competition unites students, medical professionals, industry experts and investors to address patient needs through medical technology design. Teams collaborate to take innovative concepts from idea to real-world application, gaining hands-on experience in every phase of development.
Turn bold ideas into tangible solutions
Participants don’t just brainstorm; they engage in the full process of medical technology development. Students from diverse disciplines—medicine, engineering, business and other fields —work together, identifying patient needs and developing solutions. With guidance from mentors in law, business and health care, teams move from concept to prototyping, intellectual property protection and market evaluation.
Who can participate in Bench to Bedside?
Bench to Bedside is open to undergraduate and graduate students in any discipline from any college or university. You can join as individuals or a team. Introductory sessions allow students to interact and form their teams. Early involvement allows for more time to develop a prototype.
Teams in recent years have come from Northeast Ohio Medical University, Kent State University, University of Akron, Youngstown State University, Ohio State University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Utah, among others.
By the numbers
37
Total teams
30
Poster teams
7
Legacy teams
108
Poster participants
Teams by primary institution
Primary affiliations:
- Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), 24
- University of Akron, 9
- Case Western Reserve University, 2
- University of Utah, 1
- University of Hawaii, 1
Additional affiliations:
- Youngstown State University
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- Duke University
- American Engineering Group (AEG) LLC
2026 winners
Valor PT
First place | $10,000
Valor PT is an AI-powered, single-camera motion-analysis platform that turns a standard iPhone or iPad into a real-time tool for measuring joint angles, range of motion and movement quality.
Team members: Aidan Kraan, Edward Son, Ethan Mardovin, Varun Raja, Avinab De, Andrew Bostick, Carter Burnett, Saverio Mignella, Jillian Gady and Macey Swearingen.
Naventro
Second place | $5,000
Naventro’s MagniPath pairs a magnetized capsule with a wearable sensing belt to improve localization of small-bowel abnormalities during wireless capsule endoscopy.
Team member: Rajiv Raman.
NEOMED MCH / Go Mama Go
Third place, $2,500
Go Mama Go expands access to prenatal and postpartum care through a mobile resource platform, AI-assisted maternal risk screening and community-based prenatal care kiosks.
Team members: Grace Kessen, Rohini Kumar and Bria Shackleford.
FindMyOTC
People's Choice Award | $1,000
FindMyOTC is a digital clinical decision-support tool that helps patients choose over-the-counter medications and self-care strategies safely.
Team members: Sebastian Bova and Adil Hasan.
2026 Legacy Team Awards
FlowMo
First Place Legacy Award | $5,000
FlowMo uses clip-on sensors to continuously monitor postoperative fluid volume, flow rate, color and turbidity, with secure dashboard and EHR reporting.
Team members: Varun Raja, Matthew Price, Dhishan Kashyap, Pouya Susanabadifarahani, Alaya Kiser and Jonathan Takacs.
The Watchman / Zonal Coating Application System (ZCAS)
Second Place Legacy Award | $2,500
ZCAS applies different coatings to blood-facing and tissue-facing regions of left atrial appendage occlusion devices to reduce thrombosis, promote endothelialization and limit peri-device leakage.
Team members: Saaleha Shamsi, Andrew Muskara and Mustafa Houmsse.
WrapStar
People's Choice Legacy Award | $1,000
WrapStar is a reversible, color-changing gauze and wrap that senses humidity to improve wound and burn-care monitoring.
Team members: Ramah Kassis, Sofia Perez, Surbhi Srinivas, Sarah Mirza, Emma Dang, Falasha Mahadevia and Sarah Kassis.
2026 Special Recognition Awards
MatrX
Kinetic Award, presented by Bounce Innovation Hub
MatrX received the inaugural Kinetic Award, including three months of mentorship, gap assessment and commercialization support from Bounce Innovation Hub.
Team members: Yara Habo, M2, and Alayna Cuevas, mechanical engineer.
Deepak Ozhathil, M.D.
Mentor of the Year
Mentor of the Year honors were presented to Deepak Ozhathil, M.D., left, of Akron Children’s Hospital.
Thank you!
We thank our sponsors and partners for their continued support and participation.
Sponsors
- Burton D. Morgan Foundation
- GAR Foundation
- Mt. Sinai Health Care Foundation
- NEOMED Foundation
- Summa Health Foundation
Clinical partners
- Akron Children’s Hospital
- Akron General Cleveland Clinic
- Cleveland Clinic
- Summa Hospital System
- University Hospitals
Academic partners
- Cleveland State University
- Kent State University
- Northeast Ohio Medical University
- Ohio State University
- University of Akron
- Youngstown State University
