NoviRad is on a mission to develop smart devices for use in minimally invasive, image-guided therapy, beginning with one of the most commonly performed procedures in interventional radiology: percutaneous fluid drainage.
About Us
Existing catheters used to drain pathologic fluid from the body are fraught with technical limitations, namely recurrent luminal occlusion. Poor catheter function results in treatment failure and the need for revision procedures with their associated risks and costs. These devices are long overdue for innovation.
NoviRad has developed a patent pending, intelligent drainage system. With a novel catheter design inspired by computational fluid dynamics, programmable suction and flush pumps, integrated sensors, real-time data analytics, and wireless control, the NoviDrain is a clinical game changer.
Technology Features
Team
ELIE BALESH, MD
MATTHEW PEÑA, PHD
CEO/CMO
Dr. Elie Balesh is a board-certified diagnostic and interventional radiologist. He holds an AB in biochemistry from Harvard and an MD from Yale. He completed internship in internal medicine and residency in diagnostic radiology at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship in biodesign innovation at the Texas Medical Center and a clinical fellowship in interventional radiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Balesh is a member of the Society of Interventional Radiology and serves on the Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke.
COO/CSO
Matthew Peña is an experienced academic research scientist, educator, and serial entrepreneur. As Associate Director of the Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator, he advises startups and manages the accelerator’s curriculum and events. He holds a BS in physics from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in biochemistry from Rice University. Matthew applies his expertise in research, data analysis, computer aided design, and additive manufacturing to NoviRad’s product development.
JERIC BAUTISTA
CPO/CDO
Jeric Bautista is an engineer and interdisciplinary designer, holding a BS in Mechanical Engineering & Design, Innovation, and Society from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His passion for 3D printing and product development led to a nearly 7 year tenure as an additive manufacturing and product engineer for re:3D. Most recently, Jeric has worked in the commercial spaceflight industry as a mechanical engineer for the Structures and Mechanisms team at Axiom Space.
LINH VU
CTO/CIO
Linh Vu is a human factors engineer with expertise in biomechanics, ergonomics, and computer programming. He has a keen interest in human spaceflight and medical device design, and has led several projects focused on full-body human modeling and wearable technologies. He holds a BS in biomedical engineering from Wichita State University, an MS in industrial engineering from the University of Houston, and is a certified professional ergonomist (CPE).