In 2015, LuminOva, a biotech start-up company based in Boston MA., won the Bertarelli Prize at Harvard University’s iLab. The prize is awarded annually as part of the Deans’ Health and Life Sciences Challenge which encourages nascent businesses to develop and grow towards commercialisation.
Whilst many businesses enter the Challenge each year and benefit from the mentoring, workshops and judging process, only one can win the Bertarelli Prize. Providing a welcome stamp approval, the Prize also comes with a substantial financial award which catapults the businesses forward and helps them to overcome barriers and hurdles to their success.
LuminOva is developing a new technology which could help infertile couples select the best embryos for IVF treatment. Whilst still undergoing clinical trials, winning the Bertarelli Prize has accelerated the development of the company and will hopefully bring their product to market more quickly – and in so doing, help people achieve their dream of becoming parents.