A startup at Yale and Brown universities that repurposes used medical equipment for amputees in developing countries has won a new $25,000 prize offered by renowned New Haven genomics pioneer Jonathan Rothberg.
Penta, a nonprofit social venture led by Yale students Victor Wang and Henry Iseman and Brown student Trang Duong, beat three other finalists in the medical device competition during a pitch-off event at Startup Yale last weekend.
Founded by Wang and Duong in 2015, Penta collects used prosthetic devices from hospitals, clinics and individuals and repurposes them for amputees in partner hospitals and clinics overseas, according to the company website.
The company launched first in Vietnam but plans to expand to other parts of Southeast Asia, according to the Tsai Center for Innovative Thinking at Yale (TsaiCITY), which administered the prize.
Rothberg, the Yale alumnus who invented high-speed DNA sequencing, offered the Rothberg Catalyzer Prize at Yale to a student-led team with the most innovative hardware or artificial intelligence solution to a medical challenge.
The Elm City native and winner of the 2015 National Medal of Technology and Innovation served as one of the judges in the contest.
Rothberg also offered $25,000 prizes at Carnegie Mellon, University of Pennsylvania and Brown University.
Natalie Missakian can be reached at news@newhavenbiz.com
