Monday, April 14th, 2025 witnessed the annual Bench-2-Bedside Medical Innovation competition at the Ken Garff Center, Rice Eccles Stadium, led by a cadre of BME student organizers and the University’s Center for Medical Innovation.   BME students have often spearheaded the months-long organization of this event, and this year’s competition was no exception:  Utah BME alumnae Amanda Lematty (President), worked with BME’s Sam Nelson (President), BME’s Monika Buczak (VP Engineering), BME’s Peyton King (VP Outreach), Alicia Du (VP Business), and BME’s Evan Marsh (BME Ambassador) to do the heavy lifting that ensured another successful event, drawing multi-disciplinary teams with company start-up value propositions and new technology both state-wide and from as far as Singapore, Montana and Ohio.

Student teams showcased their innovative solutions to problems facing today’s health care professionals in a gala-style event, meeting with competition judges, industry professionals, technology advocates, mentors, investors, University leadership, state economic development officials, local corporate sponsors, community members, family, and friends. After an evening of networking and celebration, an awards ceremony announced the winners of the competition across various categories, and sent winning teams’ home with nearly $80,000 in milestone funding for further medical product pursuit.

Since its inception in 2010, the State’s Bench to Bedside Program has launched hundreds of next-generation medical device ideas through commercial leveraging, awarded over $1.5M in milestone funding to winning teams, and given over 1400 students from across Utah first-hand experiences with healthcare innovation process, idea pitching, and technology transfer.

 

Of 31 teams competing this year, 6 teams comprising BME students took home 2025 B2B awards, notably:

Grand Prize Winners:

Aloe: Team Aloe developed a handheld, AI-powered ultrasound device that patients with rotator cuff injuries will take home to monitor their rehabilitation. Reinjury often begins with substantial, asymptomatic tears, and this team aimed to see those tears before the patient feels them. Team Members: Spencer Marx, Nathaniel Fargo, Helaman Brown, Kwon Saavedra, Isabella White (BME), Bethany Covington, David Needens (University of Utah), Konrad Willey (Brigham Young University). Grand Prize Award – $20,000. 

OrthoBolt: OrthoBolt LLC competed and won an award in the 2024 B2B competition.  They qualified for a legacy bid to compete again. Their technology fills the gaps of the increasing challenges in spinal procedures, particularly in patients with osteoporosis and low bone density. They designed an expandable pedicle screw optimized with cutting-edge rotating strut technology. These screws offer optimal anchoring in both healthy and compromised bone, reducing the risk of complications associated with traditional screw fixation methods. Team Members: Brandon Wilde, Mitch Kirkham (BME) (University of Utah). Legacy Grand Prize – $15,000

Impedia: The Impedia team’s Smartwatch uses bioimpedance technology to measure blood pressure non-invasively, eliminating the need for a bulky, uncomfortable blood-pressure cuff. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, with high blood pressure being the #1 modifiable risk factor for developing the disease. Impedia empowers consumers by enabling blood pressure monitoring anytime, anywhere, at the touch of a button. Team Members: Henry Crandall, Steven Kramer (BME), Ellia Hayes, Leonorah Pierre Jerome, Nicole Duckering (University of Utah). Grand Prize Runner-Up – $10,000

Forte BCI: Team Forte BCI produces a BlueTooth headset device that allows users to create or request specific music in real-time through thought alone.  They envision applications in music therapy and neurorehabilitation. Team Members: Alexander Venezie, Alan Mo, Evan Lee, Megan Morris (BME), Lily Prescott, Alexander Bracken (University of Utah). Eccles & Marriott Libraries Award – $5,000

Code Clock: Code Clock’s ACLS device is a tablet-sized instructional tool used during in-hospital cardiac arrests to designate roles, time and record resuscitation efforts, improve team coordination, improve adherence to the Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) algorithm, and help providers quickly get to the root cause of the cardiac arrest without the mental burden of recalling complex, time-sensitive protocols. Team Members: Alicia Du (BME), Diego Perez (BME), Evan Marsh (BME), Emily Yang, Josh whiting (BME), Leonardo Ferrisi (BME) (University of Utah). Consumer’s Choice – $2,500

NeoPulse: The NeoPulse device addresses the critical need for diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias in neonates by offering a portable, single-patient, reusable cardiac monitor designed for continuous at-home use. Unlike traditional EKG Systems, NeoPulse features a comfortable, fabric-based electrode system that wraps around the chest and shoulders without adhesives, making it ideal for delicate newborn skin. Team Members: Calvin Coates (BME), Parker Mason (BME), Zach Wade, Sam Davies, Cambri Jessop (BME), Izabella Echols (BME) (University of Utah). Consumer’s Choice – $2,500

 

B2B 2025 by the numbers:

  • 31 B2B Competing Teams
  • 140 Student Competitors, ranging from 1st-year undergraduates to PhD and MD candidates.
  • 30+ Majors and academic disciplines represented.
  • 6 participating institutions (University of Utah, Brigham Young University, Utah Valley University, Northeastern Ohio Medical University, Montana State university, National University of Singapore)
  • 100+ Professional Mentors & Competition Judges