Student Innovators Secure Major Win at Duke-NUS D-HIP Dazzle Day 2026
In a remarkable achievement for Singapore's higher education landscape, Team UroClear, comprising students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Duke-NUS Medical School, clinched the top prize of S$50,000 at the Duke-NUS Health Innovator Programme (D-HIP) Dazzle Day 2026. Their invention, the BiPass device, promises to transform kidney stone surgery by streamlining the removal of stone fragments, making procedures faster, safer, and more efficient. This victory not only highlights the prowess of interdisciplinary student teams but also underscores NUS's role in fostering medtech innovation at the intersection of engineering, medicine, and business.
The Rising Burden of Kidney Stones in Singapore
Kidney stones, or nephrolithiasis, are hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys, often causing excruciating pain when they obstruct the urinary tract. In Singapore, the lifetime prevalence stands at approximately one in 10 individuals, with men affected more frequently than women at rates of about 9.7% versus 6.3%. Factors such as the tropical climate, high-sodium diets, dehydration, and metabolic conditions contribute to this trend, which is mirrored across Southeast Asia where prevalence ranges from 5% to 19%.
Recurrence is a major concern, with rates reaching 21% to 53% within three to five years post-treatment. The National Kidney Foundation Singapore notes that over 500,000 residents grapple with kidney-related issues, amplifying the need for effective interventions. As urbanization and dietary shifts persist, university-led research like this becomes crucial for addressing public health challenges through higher education-driven solutions.
Current Landscape of Kidney Stone Treatments
Treatment options vary by stone size, location, and composition. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) uses high-energy shock waves to fragment smaller stones non-invasively. Ureteroscopy (URS) involves a flexible scope inserted via the urethra to laser and extract stones from the ureter or kidney. For larger stones (>2 cm) or complex cases like staghorn calculi, Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the gold standard. PCNL entails a small back incision to access the kidney directly, using a nephroscope to break and remove stones.
Singapore's urology centers, including those at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and National University Hospital (NUH), perform thousands of these annually with high success rates—80-95% stone-free after one PCNL session. Yet, advancements from NUS students aim to refine these established methods.
Key Challenges in PCNL: The Fragment Evacuation Bottleneck
While laser fragmentation in PCNL is efficient, evacuating the resulting dust and fragments poses significant hurdles. Surgeons traditionally use retrieval baskets or forceps, a manual process that can consume up to 50% of operative time—often 30-60 minutes or more for complex cases. This prolongs anesthesia exposure, heightens infection risks from prolonged irrigation, increases costs, and raises complications like bleeding or residual stones, which occur in 10-20% of cases and lead to retreatment in 5-10%.
Residual fragments (<4 mm) may pass naturally but often regrow or cause obstruction, extending patient discomfort and healthcare burden. Innovations targeting this 'evacuation phase' could drastically improve outcomes, a gap that Team UroClear's BiPass directly addresses.
BiPass Device: Engineering a Smarter Solution
The BiPass device reimagines fragment removal by leveraging the irrigation fluid already used in PCNL. Here's how it works step-by-step:
- Integration: A compact attachment fits onto standard nephroscopes without altering existing workflows.
- Suction Generation: It channels pressurized irrigation fluid through a specialized nozzle, creating a vortex-like continuous suction flow.
- Fragment Capture: The flow draws multiple fragments simultaneously into a collection chamber, bypassing manual grasping.
- Clearance Verification: Real-time visualization confirms complete evacuation, minimizing residuals.
- Termination: Simple disconnection post-procedure, with disposable components for sterility.
This could halve evacuation time, reduce surgery duration by 20-30%, lower complication rates, and cut costs—critical for Singapore's high-volume urology services.
Meet Team UroClear: Interdisciplinary Excellence
Team UroClear exemplifies NUS's collaborative ethos: Ooi Jie Min (NUS Biomedical Engineering), Danny Lo (Duke-NUS MD Class of 2027), Joyce Zhang (NUS MBA), mentored by Dr. Alvin Lee (SGH Urology Associate Consultant) and advised by Peter Cheng (Zig Ventures). Their diverse expertise—from biomechanics and clinical insights to business strategy—mirrors D-HIP's design. Danny Lo emphasized, "Incomplete stone removal leads to additional procedures, prolonged discomfort, and higher complications. BiPass enables faster recovery with less disruption."
Duke-NUS D-HIP: Nurturing Tomorrow's Medtech Leaders
The Duke-NUS Health Innovator Programme (D-HIP), now in its fourth edition, is a nine-month flagship immersing 20+ students in biodesign. Participants from Duke-NUS, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS College of Design and Engineering (CDE), and NUS Business School tackle real clinical needs identified by SGH mentors. Culminating in Dazzle Day (March 18, 2026), teams pitch prototypes to investors like Becton Dickinson and Terumo, who awarded UroClear's S$50,000. Past winners advanced to commercialization, showcasing D-HIP's impact on Singapore's innovation pipeline.
Boosting Singapore's Medtech Ecosystem Through Universities
Singapore aims to be a medtech hub, with NUS and Duke-NUS at the forefront. Programs like D-HIP align with national initiatives such as the Healthier SG agenda and Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan, emphasizing student-led solutions. The BiPass win follows NUS's track record, including PAKAD (2017 ITE-NUS-NUH device for PCNL access). Such efforts train graduates for high-demand roles in biomedical engineering and clinical research.Learn more about D-HIP successes
Future Roadmap: From Prototype to Clinic
The prize funds prototype iteration, preclinical testing, and regulatory submissions for clinical trials at SGH. Long-term, BiPass could integrate AI for flow optimization or adapt for URS. Success here could spawn startups, akin to NUS spin-offs, creating jobs and exports. For students, it's a launchpad to medtech careers amid rising demand for innovators.
Stakeholder Perspectives and Broader Implications
Urologists praise the focus on efficiency; Dr. Alvin Lee noted procedural times as a pain point. Industry partners see scalability. For higher education, D-HIP boosts employability—NUS engineering grads command top salaries in medtech. Challenges remain: funding trials and IP navigation, but Singapore's ecosystem supports them via A*STAR and EDB.
Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
- Benefits: Shorter surgeries, fewer complications, cost savings (est. S$1,000-2,000 per case).
- Risks: Initial learning curve, compatibility testing.
- Comparisons: Vs. suction sheaths (limited capacity) or robotics (costly).
Outlook: Student Innovation Driving Singapore's Health Future
As kidney stone cases rise with aging demographics, NUS/Duke-NUS innovations like BiPass position universities as health solution engines. Expect more interdisciplinary programs, aligning with SkillsFuture for medtech upskilling. For aspiring students, this exemplifies how higher education in Singapore turns challenges into breakthroughs.NKF Singapore kidney stats For urologists and engineers eyeing research roles, such projects highlight collaboration's power. The BiPass journey inspires the next generation, ensuring Singapore leads in student-led medtech.