Health and Well-Being

Within one’s body, approximately 100 trillion microorganisms, mainly bacteria, coexist. Surprisingly, these microorganisms outnumber the number of cells in the body by a staggering 300-fold. These tiny inhabitants play a crucial role, producing both beneficial and harmful metabolites that your body cannot generate. Essentially, they function as a concealed vital organ within you. Research indicates that the majority of these microorganisms, about 95%, reside in your gut, where they exert a significant influence on approximately 70% of your immune system and are closely linked to the development of 90% of non-communicable diseases. Consequently, the gut microbiome stands as one of the most remarkable scientific discoveries of the past decade. Unlocking the secrets of one's unique gut microbiome composition holds a key to health monitoring, predicting medication effectiveness, and tailoring treatments. Notably, the gut microbiome closely correlates with dietary and lifestyle choices and can be modulated to prevent health issues rather than merely correcting them. However, the lack of comprehensive knowledge and databases in Southeast Asia represents a significant gap in this field. Bridging this gap promises to yield invaluable insights and drive future healthcare breakthroughs.

Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death globally, responsible for 74% of deaths worldwide. It is predicted that, by 2060, total deaths of NCDs per capita will increase by 52%, while those of communicable diseases decline. However, more than half of the deaths are preventable with lifestyle adjustments. Personalised healthcare and wellness have the potential to help people live longer, healthier lives, and to reduce the burden of chronic diseases. As technology advances, drawing connections between genetic data and personal insights is becoming more  prevalent. The use of genetic data ranges from lifestyle change and intervention to disease prevention. This Thai startup offers a biointelligence platform, founded to equip health professionals with comprehensive genetic information regarding patients’ or users’ predisposition to serious disease risks, which could be prevented or detected earlier. Together with an enabler platform for personalised health and wellness journey, they are able to provide tailored solutions for improved health and wellness, starting with the use of genetic data. The technology owner is seeking partners in Singapore, such as supplement manufacturers, wellness clinics, and wellness tourism, to co-develop personalised solutions that integrate the use of genetic data to help people live longer and healthier lives.

Biomarkers are biomolecules and/or physical characteristics found in the body that give a clear picture of a person’s health and fitness. Currently, the golden standard of biomarker testing is through blood tests. However, this method is invasive as it involves drawing blood with a needle. Additionally, blood tests are neither real-time nor continuous which means there is significant delay between testing and receiving results. Such problems can be solved through this invention as this method involves sensing biomarkers within sweat through a skin patch, eschewing the need for needles. Furthermore, the biomarker data can be instantly transmitted to a smartphone application which allows users to continuously monitor their data in a convenient manner.  This technology would be relevant in numerous industries such as sports fitness, beauty, and medical diagnostics; thus, attracting sizable demand for it where there is an unmet need for convenient, accurate and real time detection of accurate biomarkers.

Histopathology is a cornerstone of modern medicine, providing crucial information that enables doctors to formulate optimal treatment strategies before, during, and after surgeries. However, current methods for obtaining histological images grapple with a compromise between speed and accuracy and suffer from organ-dependent inconsistencies. Addressing these challenges, our technology was developed as a versatile solution to cater to a wide array of clinical scenarios. It sets a new benchmark for medical standards with its rapid, precise, and label-free on-the-spot imaging capability. Computation High-throughput Autofluorescence Microscopy by Pattern Illumination is a one-of-a-kind patented solution n that can detect and provide instant information about cancer status before, during, and after surgeries. This technology lets surgeons place fresh tissue samples taken directly from the patient into the microscope and receive high-resolution and virtually stained histological images in just three minutes. The primary adopters of this technology are expected to be healthcare organizations, hospitals, and research institutions, or any entity involved in histopathology, cancer diagnosis, and surgery. This technology fills a crucial void in the market by providing swift, high-resolution, label-free imaging of thick tissue samples, an achievement previously unattainable. Consequently, this technology not only accelerates the diagnostic process but also enhances its precision, revolutionizing the field of histopathology

Along with the global aging population, the number of people with dementia is also increasing. Moreover, digitalization of society is isolating elderly people. Enjoyable learning using digital devices can be the solution. The product is in the form of a table with a touch screen on the surface. The embedded software is connected to the contents server, which provides various programs such as visual perception and cognitive tests, videos, trainings, and analysis results. They prevent brain aging by stimulating both the left and right brains. The product is beneficial to children as well. The rich educational contents are designed to develop the problem solving ability and the metacognitive ability. The training course includes solid figures, basic Korean, mathematics, and adages etc. Analysis results are also provided to compensate for a vulnerable subject. In addition, safety education and news from local education offices are provided in conjunction with the government.

Neurological diseases are the second leading cause of death. CT scans have been used as the primary modality to diagnose brain abnormalities such as Intracranial Haemorrhage (ICH) and neurodegeneration. Radiologists usually have to deal with an overwhelming scan backlog and writing radiology reports is a time consuming process. Manual segmentation of lesions is tedious and existing heuristics have been shown to overestimate lesion volumes. Clinicians are also wary of the ‘black box’ nature of deep learning models. Hence, an automated tool in the workflow could substantially improve clinical productivity and interpretability is crucial to build trust with clinical stakeholders. Our proposed technology is an AI solution that automates ICH detection and brain tissue segmentation on CT scans, producing accurate volumetric information to assist triaging. Our technology also comes with a set of tools to interact with the AI models and generate reports easily. Moreover, we strengthen our AI transparency with interpretable models. Our platform also focuses on model robustness tests to assure AI safety.  

Diabetes is associated with macrovascular and microvascular complications, including Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU). To identify and manage DFU risk, diabetic patients are recommended to go for a regular foot assessment. Patients who are at‐risk diabetic foot should undergo regular podiatry evaluation, however specialised diabetes centers are currently facing high rates of ulcer recurrence. Frequent visits to these centers can strain an already overwhelmed healthcare system. The technology developer has invented an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that is able to detect pre-ulceration. By detecting feet at risk of developing DFU, the model is able to refer patients for timely intervention before it becomes a DFU. Users only need to submit photos of their feet from different angles and an anomaly score will be calculated.

Norovirus is a highly contagious non-enveloped virus responsible for causing >90% of viral gastroenteritis, and >50% of all gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. According to the WHO, norovirus causes an estimated 685 million cases of infection and 200,000 deaths per year. Its resilience poses challenges for eradication through altering pH, heat exposure, or common disinfectants. Notably, alcohol-based hand sanitisers are not as effective against this virus, according to the US CDC. To address this, a biotech company has successfully developed a novel virus-binding protein technology derived from jack beans or sword beans. This patented lectin protein exhibits antiviral properties and has demonstrated the ability to neutralise not only norovirus, but also coronavirus and Hepatitis A virus. It has also demonstrated activity against Escherichia coli bacteria.  By utilising this innovative technology, viral outbreaks can be prevented. This versatile lectin protein can be incorporated as an active ingredient into various product formulations. The technology owner is especially interested to work with companies from health service sectors, and personal care product manufacturers.

This invention is a portable electromyography (EMG) sensor for muscle activity detection.  Unlike conventional EMG devices, which are bulky and confined to clinic settings, the sensor is built to be compact and wearable. It enables real-time, reliable biofeedback regardless of user’s location, bridging the accessibility gap in EMG analysis outside the traditional medical environments. This portability is achieved by integrating reusable micro-structured electrodes and highly integrated sensing system onto a soft and flexible substrate. The design ensures accurate EMG detection while offering a comfortable experience for extended use. The technology consists of three main components: Use of nanofabrication to build the electrodes followed by electric signal detection, replacing conventional gel electrodes. A processing unit for amplification to digital signals. Software to visualize EMG signals. The EMG sensor performance and analysis capabilities allows for collection of signals at high frequency to monitor muscle fatigue conditions. The technology owner is seeking for collaborations in the sports and fitness industry in providing accurate muscle activity signals, enhancing tracking of individual’s physical health actively and for athletes to make optimal adjustments to their training and tailor their approach towards fitness goals. However, its applications extend beyond fitness, with potential uses in elderly health care, virtual reality, gaming, and human-robot interaction. This technology taps into the growing demand for advanced, portable health monitoring systems, offering a solution that bridges the gap between medical-grade equipment and consumer fitness products. The sensor is also currently being trial to aid in rehabilitation in the hospitals.