NWO Awards Open Mind Grant to Kottapalli to enhance IV infusion safety

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has awarded an Open Mind grant of €50,000 to Ajay Kottappali and his team for their groundbreaking project aimed at improving the safety and accuracy of intravenous (IV) infusion therapy.

Intravenous (IV) infusion therapy is a common practice in hospitals globally, with billions of infusions performed each year. However, despite its widespread use, up to 60% of IV infusions suffer from incorrect flow rates, which can pose serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as preterm infants and critically ill patients. As part of the Open Mind project, the team of Kottapalli aims to develop a new version of aerosol jet printed flow sensors and conduct rigorous in-vitro validation to assess its effectiveness across a range of critical infusion fluids.

About Open Mind
Every year, NWO awards a number of €50,000 Open Mind grants for socially relevant research. Unusual research ideas that contribute to creative and sustainable solutions to societal challenges are sought. This year, 15 proposals were selected for the final, which was presented live during TEKNOWLOGY. In a short pitch, participants explained their out-of-the-box research idea.