UCLA Biodesign Teams Win First and Second Place at the 2026 Bruin 1K Pitches

Two UCLA Biodesign teams, Ascend MedTech and SparkHeal, earned top honors at the 2026 Bruin 1K Pitches competition, securing first- and second-place finishes among a competitive field of student entrepreneurs. The event was hosted by Bruin Entrepreneurs at UCLA on May 17, 2026.

Ascend MedTech — First Place

Ascend MedTech earned first place for its work developing a novel approach to treating aortic stenosis, a progressive condition in which calcium buildup narrows the aortic valve and restricts blood flow from the heart. The team is developing technology designed to improve treatment options for patients living with valve disease.

The project is led by Amara Onyiah, a UCLA Biodesign Accelerator Fellow and third-year medical student at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. The team also includes Joseph Chang, UCLA Biodesign alumna Doris Cheng, UCLA alumnus Liv Heidenreich, UCLA School of Law student Adam Kobza, and advisor Radi Zinoviev, MD, an interventional cardiologist at UCLA Health.

SparkHeal — Second Place

SparkHeal earned second place for its development of a self-powered therapeutic dressing designed to accelerate wound healing through continuous electrical stimulation. The technology uses patented magnetoelastic generator (MEG) technology to convert subtle body movements into electrical energy, providing therapeutic stimulation without the need for external power sources.

The project is led by Kanishk Rai, a UCLA Biodesign Accelerator Fellow and PhD candidate in bioengineering at UCLA. Rai developed the technology in the laboratory of Song Li, PhD, Chancellor's Professor of Bioengineering and Associate Dean for Graduate and Professional Education at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. The team also includes Vasav Shah, MS, a firmware engineer at Anuevo. Faculty mentors include Song Li, PhD and Jun Chen, PhD, associate professor of bioengineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering.