University of Washington team working on CPR feedback device wins health innovation challenge
Here’s a rewritten version of the news story with a detailed, viral tone:
UW Student Innovators Clinch Top Honors in High-Stakes Health Tech Showdown
The University of Washington’s engineering and medical minds just pulled off a clean sweep at the 2026 Hollomon Health Innovation Challenge, turning Seattle into the epicenter of breakthrough medical technology. In a competition that drew 67 of the brightest minds across the Cascadia Corridor, UW teams dominated every major category, proving once again that the Huskies aren’t just winning on the football field—they’re engineering the future of healthcare.
The star of the show? CPRight, a game-changing CPR feedback device that’s about to revolutionize emergency response as we know it. This isn’t your average medical gadget—CPRight delivers real-time data on compression rate and depth, essentially acting as a virtual CPR coach for bystanders during those critical first minutes of a cardiac emergency. Think of it as having a paramedic whispering instructions in your ear when every second counts.
The brainchild of four brilliant UW students—Shubham Bansal (neuroscience), Deeya Sharma (UW School of Medicine), Prisha Hemani (computer science), and Atharv Dixit (engineering)—CPRight walked away with not one, but two major prizes: the $15,000 Holloman Family Grand Prize and the $2,500 Naturacur Wound Healing Best Idea for a Medical Device Prize. That’s $17,500 in validation that their life-saving innovation is ready for prime time.
But here’s where it gets even more interesting: CPRight wasn’t developed in isolation. The team actually co-developed their technology alongside ReviveHer, last year’s Best Idea for Patient Safety prize winner. Talk about building on success!
The competition, hosted by UW’s Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship, isn’t just another academic exercise. This is where classroom theory meets real-world impact. Students from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia, and Alaska came armed with solutions to healthcare’s toughest challenges, pitching everything from AI-powered surgical tools to kidney disease therapies that could eliminate the need for dialysis.
The runners-up were equally impressive. TheraT took home $10,000 for developing a drinkable therapy that removes gut toxins before they hit the bloodstream—potentially freeing chronic kidney disease patients from the dialysis treadmill. LegUp Prosthetics earned $5,000 (plus another $2,500 for addressing healthcare disparities) with their smartphone-based 3D scanning system that could bring affordable prosthetics to rural America. ShiftSpark won $2,500 for creating a nurse stress-management platform that works right in the workflow. And TPT-Finder, an AI surgical tool that helps surgeons spot parathyroid tissue during thyroid operations, scored a six-month membership at SoundBio Lab’s biomakerspace.
Even the “smaller” prizes represented massive potential. ColoGuide took home $1,000 for their AI colonoscopy navigation system that could make colonoscopies faster, safer, and more accurate.
The numbers tell the story of explosive growth: 509 teams, over 1,725 students, and $424,000 in prizes awarded over 11 years. This isn’t just a competition—it’s become the proving ground for the next generation of healthcare innovators.
What makes this year particularly sweet for UW? They didn’t just win; they dominated. Every major prize went to a UW team, a clean sweep that’s got to have rival schools rethinking their innovation strategies. The message is clear: when it comes to health tech, Seattle is where it’s happening.
The implications extend far beyond campus bragging rights. These student innovations could literally save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and democratize access to cutting-edge treatments. From CPR feedback devices that could double survival rates to prosthetic systems that bring mobility to underserved communities, this is technology with a purpose.
As the dust settles on this year’s challenge, one thing is certain: the future of healthcare is being built by students who aren’t waiting for permission to solve the world’s biggest problems. They’re already doing it.
CPRright #HealthcareInnovation #UWEngineering #MedicalDevices #HealthTech #StudentInnovation #EmergencyResponse #CPR #HealthcareAccess #AIinMedicine #MedicalTechnology #InnovationChallenge #HealthcareDisparities #LifeSavingTech #StudentEntrepreneurs #HealthcareRevolution #TechForGood #MedicalAI #EmergencyCare #HealthcareInnovationChallenge #CPRFeedbackDevice #NextGenHealthcare #MedicalDeviceInnovation #HealthcareEquity #StudentEngineers #HealthcareSolutions #MedicalInnovation #EmergencyMedicine #HealthcareTechnology #StudentLedInnovation
“Game-changing CPR device takes top prize at UW health tech competition”
“UW students sweep health innovation challenge with life-saving tech”
“CPR feedback device could double survival rates in cardiac emergencies”
“Student innovators develop drinkable therapy that could eliminate dialysis”
“AI surgical tool prevents costly complications during thyroid operations”
“Smartphone-based prosthetics bring mobility to rural America”
“Nurse stress platform embeds mental health support into hospital workflow”
“Clean sweep: UW dominates every category in regional health competition”
“Next generation of healthcare innovators proves classroom theory meets real-world impact”
“Medical technology competition awards $424,000 to student teams over 11 years”
“CPRright device acts as virtual paramedic during critical emergency moments”
“Healthcare disparities addressed through point-of-care prosthetic scanning system”
“AI colonoscopy navigation could make screenings faster and more accurate”
“Student-developed technologies target healthcare’s most expensive complications”
“Medical device competition becomes proving ground for future healthcare leaders”
“CPRright co-developed with last year’s patient safety prize winner”
“Healthcare innovation challenge attracts brightest minds from five-state region”
“Student teams develop solutions that could save thousands of lives annually”
“Medical technology competition showcases future of emergency response systems”
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