What:

The Johns Hopkins University Center for Bioengineering Innovation & Design (CBID) and Jhpiego invite you to take part in a weekend design challenge to focus in the prevention of mosquito bites in an effort to reduce the spread of the Zika virus. Despite significant efforts and technological advancements, mosquitos continue to pose considerable public health problems across wide geographical areas. The public health cost is enormous. There is a recent associating between Zika virus infection and microcephaly in infants born to women infected during pregnancy and Guillain-Barre syndrome in Zika-infected individuals.

New ideas and designs can help save lives. YOU can help save lives!

Mosquitoes are responsible for a variety of diseases, including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. Current best practices for personal protection against mosquito bites are avoidance and include the following major categories: 1) Topical insect repellants; 2) Protective clothing, including insecticide-treated clothing; 3) Bed nets and insecticide-treated nets; 4) Screens, mesh, or net on windows and doors. Other solutions that are available but have shown to be less effective for personal protection are: 5) Spatial repellents such as coils, emanators, and insecticide knockdown sprays; and 6) air conditioning and fans.

While the mortality rate if Zika is low, there is still an urgent responsibility to protect those vulnerable to the disease and other diseases transmitted by mosquitos. This event is one of the MANY ways Johns Hopkins is doing its part.   It is an opportunity for YOU to contribute to a part of the solution.

Who:

Any Johns Hopkins student, fellow, faculty member, clinicians, administrator, and staff may apply. Skillsets that we are looking for include (but not limited to):

  • Residents/ fellows, especially with infectious disease control and vector control experience
  • Public Health students/ professionals with experience in infectious disease and epidemiology, global health interventions
  • Biomedical Engineers
  • Industrial Design & Human Factors Engineers
  • Materials Scientists with expertise in films, coatings, etc
  • Soft-goods designers (outdoor goods, clothing, etc)
  • Anyone with experience in mosquito vector control or has ideas about how to avoid being bitten, or understands insecticides, repellants or other methods of repelling bugs
  • Highly creative and inventive people of all backgrounds

When:

Kick-off meeting: Thursday, April 7, 2016, 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Design Challenge: Saturday, April 9, 2016 from 9:00am, ending Sunday, April 10, 2016 at 3:00 PM (EDT)

Where:

Johns Hopkins University, Homewood Campus
Hodson Hall 110 (THURSDAY NIGHT)
Clark Hall 215 (Saturday and Sunday)

Ground Rules:

  • All IP contained in the idea submission forms will be the property or deemed assigned to Johns Hopkins University, and will be managed according to the established IP rules of JHU.
  • Please respect the equipment, supplies and personnel in the Design Studio.
  • Each team or individuals should document their idea in the form provided and submit online during the event. Judges will use these to decide on awards.
  • Some of the ideas submitted may be selected to include in proposals by CBID and Jhpiego for funding for further development of your solutions. If your idea (based on the forms submitted) is included in one of these proposals and funding for development is obtained, you will be invited to participate in the development project.
  • All IP contained in the idea submission forms will be the property or deemed assigned to Johns Hopkins University, and will be managed according to the established IP rules of JHU.
  • Only people registered may attend. Registration closes April 6th, 6pm.
  • This event is open to faculty, students, clinicians, and staff of Johns Hopkins University only.
  • Food and drink will be provided (dinner Friday, breakfast and lunch Saturday & Sunday)

For further questions, please contact:

  • Aditya Polsani, Director, Business Development , BME/CBID
  • [email protected]
  • 410-599-3071

Links for background reading and videos:

Information Reading & Research
• CDC. Zika Virus Overview. http://www.cdc.gov/media/dpk/2016/dpk-zika-virus.html

 

Products

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