Medtech’s young and rising stars

MPN has been looking at aspiring young figures in today’s medical plastic world and listed its top three shining stars

George Frodsham: Magnetic attraction

Frodsham created a device which treats malaria when he was studying for a PhD at University College London.

Red blood cells infected with a malaria parasite have magnetic properties. Frodsham’s device involves no drugs or chemicals and instead is the first to use magnets to capture these infected cells.

Now at 28 Frodsham is the founder of his own company MediSieve which is commercialising this device.

Jack Andraka: Teen spirit

Andraka was 15 years old when he invented an early detection test for a protein that indicates the presence of pancreatic, ovarian, and lung cancers.

He is now, at 18, building nanobots out of iron oxide that can destroy cancer cells using DNA programming.

He is a strong advocate for LGBT rights and has also published his young adult memoir, Breakthrough: How one teen innovator is changing the world.

Joe Landolina: Model student

Landola was 17 years old when he invented VetiGel while studying at New York University Polytechnic School of Engineering.

VetiGel is an algae-based polymer gel which, when applied to a wound, forms a blood clot within 12 seconds to stop bleeding and starts to heal the wound within minutes.

Now at 22 Landola is the CEO of Suneris, a biotech company that manufactures VetiGel.