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Private Company
Hormone-monitoring technology
  • Background
  • What we're looking for
  • What we can offer you
  • Q&A
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Background

Women experience natural hormonal cycles that influence various aspects of daily life, from physical performance to emotional well-being. The menstrual cycle has four distinct phases: menstrual, follicular, ovulatory, and luteal. Each phase is associated with specific physiological and psychological changes. For instance, during the luteal phase, women may experience reduced pain sensitivity, while the follicular phase may increase energy levels. Tailoring nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness practices to these phases can lead to improved well-being, productivity, and overall health. 

 

However, current methods for tracking a woman’s cycle rely heavily on subjective user reporting or wearable technologies that rely on indirect indicators like basal body temperature and heart rate. These tools are often imprecise, time-consuming, or fail to capture the hormonal nuances that occur during each phase. As a result, women lack actionable insights into how they can adjust their lifestyles to align with their unique hormonal fluctuations. 

 

To empower women with personalized insights into their hormonal health, we seek a technological solution that offers accurate and real-time tracking of cycle-specific hormonal changes in a non-invasive and user-friendly way.

What we're looking for

We are looking for a wearable solution that can accurately detect hormonal changes, such as estrogen and progesterone levels, to determine which phase of the menstrual cycle a user is in.

Solutions of interest include:
  • Electrochemical biosensors
  • Immunosensors
  • Saliva-based sensors
  • Near-infrared optical sensors
  • Quartz crystal microbalance sensors
  • RFID-based hormone sensors
  • Sweat sensors
Our must-have requirements are:
  • Capable of accurately measuring estrogen and/or progesterone levels in real time.
  • Lightweight and comfortable for daily use or operation.
  • Wearable or a simple, intuitive non-wearable device.
  • Able to transmit data wirelessly to an app for real-time monitoring.
Our nice-to-have's are:
  • Can collect additional health metrics
  • Functions continuously for at least one month with minimal maintenance
What's out of scope:
  • Requires invasive procedures or frequent blood sampling
  • Requires extensive user intervention or complex calibration
Acceptable technology readiness levels (TRL):
Levels 3-9
What we can offer you
Eligible partnership models:
Sponsored researchCo-developmentEquity investment
Benefits:
Sponsored Research
Funding is proposal-dependent and provided in phases, e.g., $50k-$100k for proof of concept, with follow-on funding as the project progresses.
Expertise
Partners will interact with a project lead to mutually develop a project plan and engage in regular meetings to ensure success. Partners will have access to internal team/experts as appropriate.
Data
Selected partners will be able to access key data for the duration of the project.
Facilities and Services
Partners will be able to access our pilot plant and analytical labs to generate relevant data.
Q&A with the company

The Q&A is now closed.

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Q.
Here is a researcher with a working prototype: https://www.caltech.edu/about/news/wearable-patch-wirelessly-monitors-estrogen-in-sweat .
1
A.
Thank you for sharing, Laurel - we are aware of Caltech's technology and are interested! If you have a similar solution please submit your proposal.
Team Member, Reviewer, Private Company
November 13, 2024
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0
0
Q.
Researchers have functionalized a graphene-based electrochemical biosensor platform to detect progesterone with femtomolar sensitivity. I don't think it would be wearable, but we can currently make these sensors for <$1.
1
A.
Thanks - if it would not be wearable, where would it go, or how it would be used?
Team Member, Reviewer, Private Company
December 2, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
A.
I'm not sure I am competent to answer. This sensor is somewhat similar to a glucose test strip (I think that's a good analog). The sensor itself is small (10mm x 30mm), very light (about 600 mg), single use (no calibration required) device. No expertise required. Real time results. Put the analyte on the sensor, plug the sensor into a simple reader device, and results go to cell phone (usually). I guess much depends on the analyte you want to use. Perhaps more complex than you would want, but very sensitive.
1
A.
Thank you for elaborating - this could be potentially interesting to us because it would be a lower cost alternative to a wearable, which would be more expensive. I assume the simple reader device would also not be very costly. Are you in contact with the researchers who have functionalized this sensor? We might be interested in seeing a basic presentation or proposal from them.
Team Member, Reviewer, Private Company
December 2, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
A.
We have not worked with the Singapore group I referenced, but there are a number of other researchers and customers who are focused on developing similar diagnostic tools and who would have the expertise needed to do the functionalization. Everyone sees value in looking for something else that current diagnostic tools are too slow and/or too expensive to detect. Our platform is very similar to Dr. Gao's at CalTech (I cite this because you noted you were familiar with it, but most of the electrochemical sensors employ a variation of this basic design). We use an ultrathin (1 um) chemical vapor deposition carbon film for the counter and working electrodes (along with a Ag/AgCl refence electrode). The readers are inexpensive - the value is in the single use sensors (i.e., the razor blade model). There is definitely some R&D to get what you want, but I am comfortable representing that there are plenty of folks out there who can do this - they just need a reason. It would be helpful to know the analyte and the sensitivity you're shooting for (a range is fine). The more I know, the better I am able to point you in the right direction. Happy to sign an NDA.
1
A.
I think it would be very interesting to connect. I will be looking to schedule conversations for this briefing in January. Would love to stay connected and touch base in the new year.
Team Member, Reviewer, Private Company
December 9, 2024
Is this response helpful?
0
0
A.
Okay, great - always happy to talk and learn more. You know how to find me, but FWIW, my email is greg@generalgraphenecorp.com.
1
Q.
This might be useful. SPEs are cheap, but carbon inks contain solvents and binders that often interfere with biologics. Our carbon has no binders or solvents. https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/OutputFile/7229361
1
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