Infectious diseases continue to disrupt daily life—especially in underserved, high-risk, or infrastructure-limited communities. Despite major advances in healthcare, many frontline workers and local communities still lack scalable, practical tools to prevent, detect, and respond to outbreaks in real-world settings.
“Communities and frontline workers lack scalable tools to prevent and respond to infectious disease transmission in daily life.”
We are calling on engineers, designers, health experts, and innovators to co-develop open-source tools that are:
Makers, coders, engineers, designers, medical professionals, and researchers.
Organizations able to support pilots, provide infrastructure, or fund specific solutions. This includes:
• Public health departments
• NGOs
• Local manufacturers
• Innovation accelerators
• Academic institutions
Media outlets, community leaders, and influencers who can spread the word and recruit grassroots support.
Challenge Addressed: Lack of affordable and locally manufacturable PPE during outbreaks.
Objective Solution: Flat-pack, laser-cut face shield that can be shipped or locally produced and easily assembled without specialized equipment.
Design Intent: Lightweight, inexpensive, scalable, locally manufacturable, reusable.
Target Outcomes:
Increase PPE accessibility in underserved regions.
Enable rapid production during crises.
Stage: Concept (early validation, pre-prototype).
TRL Level: 2 – Technology concept formulated.
Challenge Addressed: Need for non-contact fever screening in public spaces.
Objective Solution: Arduino-based infrared thermometer with simple LED alert for elevated temperatures.
Design Intent: Low-cost electronics, portable, easy to use, contactless.
Target Outcomes:
Provide affordable fever detection at scale.
Reduce transmission risk by eliminating direct contact.
Stage: Concept (early validation, pre-prototype).
TRL Level: 2 – Technology concept formulated.
Challenge Addressed: Limited access to affordable pulse oximeters in low-resource settings.
Objective Solution: Open-source pulse oximeter using off-the-shelf components for monitoring oxygen saturation.
Design Intent: Open hardware/software, low-cost, accessible materials, reliable readings.
Target Outcomes:
Democratize access to vital sign monitoring.
Support early detection of respiratory distress.
Stage: Concept (early validation, pre-prototype).
TRL Level: 2 – Technology concept formulated.
Challenge Addressed: High-traffic areas lack quick temperature screening.
Objective Solution: Infrared scanner for doors/public space monitoring.
Design Intent: Non-intrusive, fast, scalable for public settings.
Target Outcomes:
Enable seamless fever checks in public places.
Support scalable community health screening.
Stage: Concept (early validation, pre-prototype).
TRL Level: 2 – Technology concept formulated.
Challenge Addressed: Difficulty ensuring cloth masks fit properly to prevent leakage.
Objective Solution: Visual patch or airflow test that indicates mask seal effectiveness.
Design Intent: Simple, low-cost, user-friendly, adaptable to cloth/surgical masks.
Target Outcomes:
Improve effectiveness of mask use.
Empower users to self-check mask fit.
Stage: Concept (early validation, pre-prototype).
TRL Level: 2 – Technology concept formulated.
Challenge Addressed: Respiratory patients need affordable inhaler spacers for effective drug delivery.
Objective Solution: 3D-printable inhaler spacer for respiratory patients.
Design Intent: Printable, accessible, cost-effective, lightweight.
Target Outcomes:
Improve drug delivery for patients with asthma/respiratory conditions.
Expand access in low-resource settings.
Stage: Concept (early validation, pre-prototype).
TRL Level: 2 – Technology concept formulated.
Challenge Addressed: Need for lightweight eye protection in everyday settings.
Objective Solution: Clip-on protective eyewear accessory for daily use.
Design Intent: Lightweight, simple, low-cost, adaptable to various glasses.
Target Outcomes:
Provide everyday protective eyewear.
Improve comfort and accessibility of PPE.
Stage: Concept (early validation, pre-prototype).
TRL Level: 2 – Technology concept formulated.
Challenge Addressed: Risk of contaminated personal belongings in high-risk areas.
Objective Solution: USB-powered UV sterilizer for personal belongings like phones, keys, masks.
Design Intent: Portable, low-power, safe UV exposure levels.
Target Outcomes:
Reduce pathogen load on personal items.
Provide practical hygiene support for communities.
Stage: Concept (early validation, pre-prototype).
TRL Level: 2 – Technology concept formulated.