The Lead Detect Prize Phase 2 teams participated in a virtual accelerator to advance the development of next-generation point-of-care blood lead testing technology. Through webinars and office hours, a diverse group of mentors have supported the five teams in developing their solutions and technologies. These experts have shared valuable insights and best practices, empowering teams to navigate challenges and accelerate their development.
To spotlight the expertise available to the Phase 2 teams, the Lead Detect Prize spoke with a few of these accelerator mentors about their lead detection experience, the challenge of advancing innovation, and the potential for impact.
Mentor perspectives
What inspired you to get involved in the field of lead detection?
“I am a child development specialist by training and have witnessed the impact of lead exposure on children’s development and behavior in early childhood education classrooms. I was inspired to get involved to protect children from lead exposure and to ensure every child is tested at age 1 and again at age 2.” — Gail Gettens, Child Development Specialist, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
“I have worked in Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention programs at the county level in North Carolina and the state level in both North and South Carolina. Childhood lead poisoning prevention caught and held my attention because of the population affected and the many possible sources and methods of exposure.” — ML Tanner, Program Manager, South Carolina Department of Public Health
I” am a primary care pediatrician whose clinical practice is focused on caring for families with social vulnerability. Many of these families experience the effects of living in poverty, including an increased risk of lead poisoning.” — Heather Paradis, Medical Director, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
“Lead detection first piqued my interest when I learned about the occupational health risks of law enforcement who are exposed at firing ranges.” — Andrew Dimeo, Innovation and Design Coach, Trig
How have you been drawing on your expertise to help the teams tackle their development priorities during the Phase 2 accelerator?
Our program is very frequently involved with “go live” training with pediatric healthcare sites when new POC (point-of-care) blood lead level testing equipment is deployed. This expertise has enabled me to discuss the real-life issues with POC testing in clinical settings such as contaminated capillary blood samples, the importance of training resources, and challenges with required electronic reporting of blood lead level test results from EMR (electronic medical record) through HL7, a standard for transferring electronic medical records between applications. — Gail Gettens
I have over 25 years of experience in the field of childhood lead poisoning prevention. I am familiar with the needs of a surveillance and case management program as well as potential pitfalls to reporting. Our program has seen firsthand the importance of proper site cleaning prior to collecting a blood sample to avoid false positives. — ML Tanner
I have practical experience as a primary care pediatrician and have performed lead testing in alternative community locations such as Head Start programs, WIC sites, and homeless shelters. I understand the practicalities of operational workflows and system-level policies that drive our actions and reactions. I also understand the public health perspective from my time as medical director for the City of Milwaukee. — Heather Paradis
How do you feel this challenge has uniquely helped accelerate the development of new testing technology?
I’m a fan of challenges because they give teams the focus they may otherwise be lacking. The innovators who are trying to do everything for everyone often struggle to find a market. Having the focus and additional resources that come with a challenge are incredibly valuable to innovators. — Andrew DiMeo
This challenge has attracted attention to the need for new technology from participants with a variety of backgrounds. Any time we can shine a light on accurately detecting blood lead and protecting children, we all win. — ML Tanner
This challenge has uniquely accelerated this process by providing development teams access to many different experts and “real world” users of POC testing equipment in clinical settings — rapidly moving teams through what otherwise might be a lengthy learning curve. — Gail Gettens
What most excites you about the potential impact of the Lead Detect Prize?
The potential for the Lead Detect Prize to catalyze detection opportunities in children and other exposed individuals means that communities can focus on solutions driven by the evidence. We can more rapidly deploy technology to create population-level data to home in on fixing the problems. — Heather Paradis
The most exciting thing is the benefit to providers who will now have an option for point-of-care testing! Having reliable options for testing is crucial. — ML Tanner
Public health depends on information. We can’t direct resources to help those in need if we don’t know where to send them. The Lead Detect Prize is ultimately supporting the development of diagnostics that will democratize a rapid intervention to the children, families, and communities that need it most. — Andrew DiMeo
The Lead Detect Prize also thanks Rex Astles, health scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Joseph Kotarek, Brand Chief for Toxicology, Division of Chemistry and Toxicology Devices at the Food and Drug Administration, and Patrick Parsons, professor at the University of Albany, for contributing their time and expertise as accelerator mentors.
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