Blog Post 5_Fall2020

coc222 |

Conner Calzone, Tiffany Pang

9/24/20

Develop Top 20 FAQs for your project.

 

  • Identify the most important questions, building on the referee Qs/
  • Why? What? How? How well? How exactly? At steady-state?
  • Provide concise and precise responses to each question

 

 

What is the specificity and sensitivity of your device?

    1. We have not yet determined the specificity and sensitivity of this device, but we are planning to test increasing the sample size of the test line antibody selection experiment and using purified HbA and HbS, in order to maximize the specificity and sensitivity. 
    2. (follow up answer) However, our test strip utilizes a direct binding lateral flow mechanism (sandwich structure) that is more analytically sensitive with a range of 98.2-99.5% compared to the competitive binding structure, with a sensitivity of 90%.

 

What approvals are needed to market this device and how long would they typically take?

    1. Sierra Leone Pharmacy Board: 5-6 months of consistent contact with them, and sending them our concept papers to read.

 

Why don’t you think that something like (our venture) has not been brought to the field before?

    1. Other ventures implemented in LMICs were too time consuming and expensive, our venture is a point-of-care and an affordable solution that can deliver results in 15 minutes because of the optimized use of reagents and materials, and the fact that we do not need a constant supply of electricity.

 

What are the core innovation of the device?

    1. So, our core innovation of our device is that it’s affordable, simple to use and eliminates a dilution step. It reduces the hook effect which will cause a false negative when the results should be positive due to an oversaturation of the hemoglobin bound to the test strip. 

 

(follow up question): How does the E-junction work? (refer back to slides and show the diagram)

    1. Arm 1 is where the blood is distributed, arm 2 and arm 3 is the wash buffer+blue latex beads. As can be seen, the second wash step eliminates the extra hemoglobin, allowing the two checkpoints (sandwich structure): the conjugated bead and spotted antibody with the HbA analyte to produce the diagnosis.

 

Once the device is distributed to the hospital, how will the device be implemented?

    1. We will sell a bulk amount of the test strips to clients (hospitals and clinics) and the staff will undergo the requisite training to use it. It will be implemented into the SOP’s of the hospital, where the diagnosing will be directly administered during the labor routine, right when the baby is born.

 

What do you plan to do with the money earned from sales? (giving back to SCD-related services; penicillin therapy)

    1. So, from these sales we plan to give them back to SCD-related services such as penicillin therapy. It is recommended for all children younger than 5 with SCD to take prophylactic antibiotics daily. The earliest treatments possible have been proven to show the best benefits to reduce child mortality rates.
  2. Are there any SCD devices implemented in Sierra Leone right now?
    1. There have been a couple of tests such as the dried blood spot (DBS) programs, which involve collecting samples from newborns in high-risk areas and sending them to centralized laboratories for isoelectric analysis. These programs were initiated in Angola and Uganda, but were time-consuming and expensive with costs estimated to be around $9 to $15 per test.

 

Are there any SCD devices implemented in Sierra Leone right now?

    1. There have been a couple of tests such as the dried blood spot (DBS) programs, which involve collecting samples from newborns in high-risk areas and sending them to centralized laboratories for isoelectric analysis. These programs were initiated in Angola and Uganda, but were time-consuming and expensive with costs estimated to be around $9 to $15 per test.

 

What expenses must we consider to execute our plan?

  1. As shown in our income statement, expenses to consider include networking, communications, transportation, advertising, start-up, raw materials, packaging and shipping.

 

What makes a hospital our target?

  1. We will implement our product anywhere where they want it. We have identified the top 80 or so hospitals by overlaying GIS data with a population density map, but we will look to target pop-up clinics as well.

 

How do you plan to fund your venture? And who’s going to pay?

  1. We will be pursuing grants for our project and donations from those doing work in or want to do work in Sierra Leone. Donors like NGOs, WHI, WHO and UNICEF will pay the extent of our launch costs.

 

How will you validate the usability of your device? 

  1. We hope to return to Sierra Leone in Summer 2021 to begin alpha testing to validate the usability and basic accuracy of the device. To conduct this testing, the team has collaborated with Dr. Cheedy Jaja who currently has IRB approval to run a study on two other SCD screening devices, including the Sickle SCAN® device. Through Dr. Jaja, the team aims to carry out 10-20 trials for the device. These tests require no additional recruitment of human subjects beyond Dr. Jaja’s current patients.

 

How are you running future clinical trials?

  1. Future clinical trials will emphasize establishing a treatment program at hospitals with health care workers and a follow-up study.

 

What are the metrics of success for your venture?

  1. In the short term, within 5 years from launch, we can save over 5,000 lives per year, and reduce the percentage of under-five deaths in Sierra Leone due to Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) from 4.2% to 0.2%. In a steady state, 5-10 years in the future, our team wants our project to be absorbed into the Sierra Leonean Ministry of Health and strictly control the intellectual operations of the project. 

 

What determines our selling price per unit? 

  1. A price that makes the device affordable for donors while allowing profits to be invested into SCD treatment methods like penicillin prophylaxis supplements.

 

How do we plan to integrate our devices into the hospitals?

  1. Our relationship manager will gauge interest, and if interested, we will have our training expert come to the hospital’s hematology labs for the staff training. This allows us to integrate the device into their SOPs, not be involved directly.

 

  1. How will we help patients throughout diagnosing sickle cell?
    1. The success of this project will not only be labeled by the completion of the screening device, but by the strengthened attitudes of communities’ towards the idea of diagnosing SCD. We have recognized the indigenous knowledge, traditional beliefs, and practices, hence our device is being customized to be non-disruptive to the current Sierra Leonean lifestyle. Therefore, the educational curriculum is aimed to provide locals with information on where and how to receive treatment.

 

  1. What has been our plan to cope with the COVID-19 situation?
    1. Currently, there is a small team of us working hybridly at our on-campus lab to run tests, while in the meantime, we will also continue writing proposals for grants and competitions. 
    2. Some pieces we have worked on are the NIH Tech accelerator, DEBUT, GHTC IEEE and BMES. We also have plans to submit an article to either Lab on the Chip or the Journal of Hematology.

 

  1. Why is this research important? What’s so significant about what you are doing?
    1. Everyone with sickle cell disease should be able to live a fulfilling life, BUT this is definitely not the case around the world right now. As mentioned before, in sub-Saharan Africa about 50-90% of individuals with SCA will die before the age of 5. Therefore, we make it our goal to promote early awareness of the disease’s presence and diagnose all children of 5 years or younger to lower child mortality rates.

 

  1. Who is our main target consumer?
    1. For all children under the age of 5 who have sickle cell disease, our SCA diagnostic device is capable of identifying whether you have healthy blood, sickle cell disease or sickle cell trait, so they can take the necessary steps to get treatment.

 

2,109 thoughts on “Blog Post 5_Fall2020”

  1. Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account
    your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

    Also visit my site couvreur charpentier

    Reply

  2. Outstanding post but I was wanting to know if you could write
    a litte more on this subject? I’d be very thankful if
    you could elaborate a little bit more. Appreciate it!

    Also visit my web site – cipit88

    Reply

  4. This page promotes our IP licensing legal services. We draft, negotiate, and enforce licensing contracts across tech, SaaS, music, publishing, and creative industries. Clients range from startups to international businesses needing specialist licensing advice. technology licensing agreements

    Reply

  6. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. iosbet

    Reply

  9. We’re a gaggle of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
    Your website offered us with valuable info to work on. You
    have done an impressive task and our entire community can be grateful to you.

    Feel free to surf to my web blog https://surfelmedano.waw.pl/

    Reply

  19. Wow, а ցood Junior College rеmains great, howevеr math
    acts ⅼike thｅ king subject tһere, cultivating analytical cognition tһat prepares үour
    youngster ready fⲟr O-Level achievement ⲣlus ahead.

    River Valley Ηigh School Junior College incorporates
    bilingualism аnd environmental stewardship, producing eco-conscious
    leaders ᴡith worldwide viewpoints. Modern labs ɑnd green initiatives support cutting-edge learning іn sciences and liberal arts.

    Trainees engage іn cultural immersions аnd service jobs, boosting empathy аnd skills.

    Tһe school’s harmonious community promotes strength ɑnd teamwork thｒough
    sports аnd arts. Graduates are prepared fοr success іn universities ɑnd
    Ьeyond, embodying fortitude аnd cultural acumen.

    Yishun Innova Junior College, formed Ƅy the merger of Yishun Junior College ɑnd Innova Junior College, utilizes
    combined strengths tօ champion digital literacy
    ɑnd exemplary leadership, preparing trainees fօr
    quality in a technology-driven period tһrough forward-focused education. Upgraded centers, ѕuch as wise classrooms,
    media production studios, аnd development labs, promote hands-οn knowing in emerging fields ⅼike digital media, languages, and computational thinking, fostering
    imagination ɑnd technical efficiency. Varied academic аnd co-curricular programs, including language immersion courses ɑnd digital arts clubs, encourage expedition оf personal intereѕtѕ whiⅼe
    costructing citizenship worths and international awareness.
    Neighborhood engagement activities, fгom regional service tasks to worldwide collaborations, cultivate empathy,
    collaborative skills, аnd а sense of social duty аmong students.
    As positive аnd tech-savvy leaders, Yishun Innova Junior College’ѕ graduates ɑгe primed for the digital age,
    mastering ɡreater education and ingenious careers tһat
    demand adaptability ɑnd visionary thinking.

    Ɗo not take lightly lah, link ɑ good Junior College ⲣlus maths superiority foг ensure
    elevated A Levels reѕults as ԝell as seamless chɑnges.
    Parents, worry ɑbout tһe disparity hor, mathematics base remaіns critical during Junior College tߋ grasping information, vital within toԀay’s digital economy.

    Parents, competitive approach ߋn lah, solid
    primary math guides fⲟr bettеr STEM comprehension ɑѕ well аs construction aspirations.

    Іn ɑddition t᧐ establishment resources, emphasize ᥙpon math tߋ prevent frequent pitfalls ⅼike careless
    errors during assessments.
    Parents, fearful оf losing style activated lah, robust
    primary math leads fоr better science grasp plus
    construction aspirations.
    Wow, maths serves аs the base pillar in primary education, helping kids fօr spatial
    thinking tօ building paths.

    Math equips yоu with tools fоr reѕearch in uni, ｅspecially
    in STEM fields.

    Listen up, Singapore moms ɑnd dads, maths іѕ likely thе most essential primary subject, fostering innovation fⲟr
    issue-resolving іn innovative careers.

    Feel free t᧐ surf to my site … additional math tutor teacher Assessment book

    Reply

  23. Wow! Such an amazing and helpful post this is. I really really love it. It’s so good and so awesome. I am just amazed. I hope that you continue to do your work like this in the future also..agenolx slot

    Reply

  28. Hey there! I’m at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone!

    Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to
    all your posts! Keep up the outstanding work!

    Here is my web site Web Sitesi

    Reply

  30. I found so many interesting stuff in your blog especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the enjoyment here! keep up the good work… slot gacor

    Reply

  31. کتاب «چگونه به زبان همسرتان صحبت کنید» اثر اچ.
    نورمن رایت، راهنمایی جامع برای زوجین است
    تا با مهارت های ارتباطی نوین، سوءتفاهم ها را کاهش داده و
    درک متقابل را در زندگی زناشویی خود افزایش دهند.
    این اثر به شما کمک می کند تا
    زبان منحصر به فرد همسرتان…

    Visit my webpage … خلاصه کتاب

    Reply

  34. Thank you a bunch for sharing this with all
    people you really know what you’re talking approximately!
    Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my web site =).
    We could have a hyperlink alternate agreement among us

    Have a look at my blog post: bola hit

    Reply

  38. I truly love your website.. Excellent colors & theme.

    Did you make this amazing site yourself? Please reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and want to find out where
    you got this from or just what the theme is called.
    Thank you!

    My page :: canadian pharmaceuticals online

    Reply

  39. I think this is an informative post and it is very useful and knowledgeable. therefore, I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. cirebontoto

    Reply

  41. I was more than happy to discover this page. I wanted to thank you for ones time for this particularly fantastic read!!
    I definitely enjoyed every little bit of it and I have you book marked to check out
    new stuff on your blog.

    Reply

  43. Wow, cool post. I’d like to write like this too – taking time and real hard work to make a great article… but I put things off too much and never seem to get started. Thanks though. QQ998

    Reply

  46. My developer is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP.
    I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he’s tryiong none
    the less. I’ve been using WordPress on several websites for about a year and am nervous about switching to another platform.
    I have heard fantastic things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress
    content into it? Any help would be really appreciated!

    Also visit my web-site canada pharmaceuticals online

    Reply

  50. This is highly informatics, crisp and clear. I think that everything has been described in systematic manner so that reader could get maximum information and learn many things. cendanabet

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Violette Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *