Team: Reselute | Origin: North Carolina | Participation: NSF I-Corps Participant, 2022
Bone infection, also known as osteomyelitis, is both debilitating for patients and expensive for health systems. The 12-month post-operative costs for treating osteomyelitis averages over $150,000 per person, resulting in an economic burden of over $3 billion annually for leg (tibial) infections alone in the U.S. Additionally, chronic osteomyelitis has a substantial societal impact due to the extensive use of systemic antibiotics which can lead to antibiotic resistance. A device that can shorten the course of antibiotics and the time to definitive treatment could improve the health and welfare of the American public.
Reselute develops comprehensive solutions for treating orthopedic infections, leveraging innovative technologies rooted in rigorous academic research to accelerate treatment and improve patient outcomes. Its antibiotic reservoir technology offers a one-stage solution for orthopedic surgical fixation, or surgery to realign fractured or dislocated bones using screws, plates or rods, combining robust structural support for full weight bearing with sustained antibacterial protection to prevent and/or treat infection.
Reselute's technology was developed at Duke University by an NSF-supported graduate student in the lab of professor and co-founder Ken Gall. The technology was further developed with the support of an NSF Phase I Small Business Innovation Research award and is being commercialized with the follow-on funding provided by an ongoing NSF Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer award.
"The NSF I-Corps program equipped the team with the framework and resources necessary to conduct over 100 user interviews, including orthopedic surgeons from a range of specialties. These insights not only validated the significant clinical need but also helped Reselute sharpen its commercialization strategy." Reselute CEO, Cambre Kelly, Ph.D.