UMass Medical School to host ‘Shark Tank’-like challenge

The makers of an artificial pancreas, a tiny, precise glucose monitoring system and an electronic, glucose-monitoring band-aid will all be participating in a new diabetes medical innovation challenge in the style of “Shark Tank” that will take place at UMass Medical School.

The Worcester-based medical school on Sept. 29 is hosting the late stage semifinals of the Diabetes Innovation Challenge, a competition geared towards encouraging participants to create new ways to combat diabetes. Thirty-four semi finalists were chosen from 60 applicants, according to a description of the event, and at least two prizes of up to $150,000 as well as mentoring services will be awarded in four categories: technology, devices, diagnostics, and therapeutic. 

The innovation challenge is a joint venture of T1D Exchange, a type 1 diabetes network, and the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center, which is an initiative of the medical school and UMass Lowell. Semifinals for early stage projects will take place on Oct. 5 at UMass Lowell, and the finals will be held Oct. 20 at the Royal Sonesta Boston in Cambridge.