The Clemson University researchers who created GlucoSense announce the launch of a new company: Accessible Diagnostics.
Doctoral student Kayla Gainey said, “Most of the research is done. We still need to do some final design changes to get to our final product. We’re hoping by the end of the next year that it could be ready to sell.”
GlucoSense strips can be produced with ink-jet printer components using enzymes instead of ink for roughly 5 cents each, compared to $1 each for commercially produced strips.
The strips were part of the bioengineering department’s initiative to help Tanzania.
Gainey will serve as chief technology officer of Accessible Diagnostics. Dr. Delphine Dean, Clemson associate professor of bioengineering, is a co-founder of the company. Upstate backers John Warner and Brian McSharry committed to invest $500,000 through their company, Concepts to Companies, and will serve as executive leadership during start-up.
In addition, Gainey recently won $2,500 at the pitch contest at the recent SCBIO conference. She beat eight other competing companies.
“Gainey just wowed the judges with her technology. It had that immediate click of the right technology and the right fit and was easy to understand,” said Becky DeLegge, chair of SCBIO and a judge on the panel.
