Fergal’s war effor t

BRINGING support for amputees into the digital age:

When Lydia Carrick’s dad lost his leg in a motorbike accident, her family was shocked by the lack of support for new amputees

Lydia, above, said: “We faced the unknown completely alone ”

It sparked the idea for Apputee, a phone-based app that allows amputees to discover online resources, services and communities tailored to their recovery www.apputee.org

DEVELOPING medical innovations for diabetic foot ulcers:

Growing up in The Wirral, Sagar Jadeja, above, studied to become a dentist before realising his real passion was in healthcare

He then started Medical Intelligence Group, which focuses on driving disease prevention over treatment

The company’s first innovation is a remote monitor for people who suffer from diabetic foot ulcers

Sagar has developed a working prototype to help measure an ulcer and has a clinical trial planned www medicalintelligence group.co.uk

INVENTING body-powered prosthetics that don’t need electronics:

Fergal Mackie was always interested in making things That’s why he decided to study mechanical engineering – to fulfil his passion for building things It was when Fergal fell over, breaking both of his wrists, that his interest for hand prosthetics was ignited

Rendered essentially handless for the summer before his final year at uni, he quickly had to discover innovative ways to complete his daily tasks

Fergal set out to invent a fully body-powered prosthetic hand with his business, Metacarpal

He built the first prototype from his bedroom and has big dreams for the company

Fergal said: “I want Metacarpal to completely change the upperlimb prosthetics industry by setting a new standard of products that competitors are chasing to catch up with

“I then want to find a way to distribute this technology where it is needed most – in developing countries and war zones ” www metacarpal co uk

MAIL-IN SPERM test kits:

Lily Elsner worked in healthcare, law and biotechnology before a friend approached her with a research idea – male fertility

She found that the UK is facing a looming fertility crisis Sperm counts have declined sharply since 1980 and over a third of infertility is exclusively caused by the male factor

Lily’s business, Jack Fertility, is developing a mail-in sperm test kit that offers lab-grade semen analysis

She said about her team:

“Being part of the solution in preventing the excruciating pain of infertility and frustration around conception speed motivates and inspires us ” www jackfertility co uk