It typically takes 17 years for research findings to translate into real-world impact on patients and communities, studies show.
Georgina Lynch, PhD, is going to try to do it in 10.
Embracing an opportunity to follow her research from the lab to the private sector, Lynch departed her position as associate professor at the WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine in early November 2024 to lead a new medical devices team at Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories. In this role, she will support the development and manufacture of a prototype she created at WSU: a hand-held pupillometry tool designed to support autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening in routine pediatric health care visits.
“Being able to join them directly in the partnership in producing my research is a unique opportunity,” Lynch said. “The translation of research into technology that can be used for the good of all people is an incredible fulfillment of our mission.”
This work began in 2016 when Lynch accomplished two major feats: she completed her doctoral degree at WSU and transitioned to a research faculty role within the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences (SHS), and she launched the Integrative Brain Function and Neurodevelopment Lab (INLab) to conduct her groundbreaking research on the pupillometry light reflex and the early detection of ASD.
It didn’t take long for Lynch’s research to gain momentum, and she began researching options to measure the eye reactions of children with ASD. Lynch partnered with mentee and collaborator Lars Neuenschwander, MD, (’24 WSU MD) as well as fellow WSU alum and software engineer Jovan Araiza (’19 WSU SHS) to create a fully functional prototype which integrated the hardware and software to read the pupillometry biometrics informing risk for ASD. Lynch also recognizes the valuable support of Sheridyn Youngblood (’24 WSU SHS), who served as a research assistant for the INLab and study coordinator, helping conduct pupillometry light reflex testing in the lab and at clinical sites.
Lynch and Neuenschwander patented the integrated hardware and software solutions they developed together in 2023. A year later in 2024, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories purchased the technology and intellectual property, which Lynch sees as the perfect marrying of scientific measurement and quality care.
“The precision measurement and signal detection they offer is what’s needed to measure pupillary response for the tools we’re using,” Lynch said. “For me the fun part will be seeing this prototype built on a 3D printer bought off Amazon and seeing it built out into a full medical device.”
To Lynch, the product and its ultimate commercialization also epitomize the importance of interprofessional innovation. It’s taken expertise from almost every health profession including speech-language pathologists, psychologists, and medical students, she notes, to make and commercialize this project, as well as an array of other clinical partners and collaborators including electrical engineers and statisticians.
“It’s truly of the future where you’re merging technology and innovation by the people who know tech with the people who know best practices in health care and medicine,” Lynch said. “When you get these two groups of people together it can be really incredible.”
Stepping into 2025, Lynch will no longer be found in the hallways of the WSU Spokane campus but instead working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to test iterations of the device and working with clinical partners across the northwest and nation to get their feedback to ensure it’s the best it can be. However, she will retain her affiliate status with the WSU College of Medicine to support ongoing research initiatives.
“I feel very fortunate to have started the work here and have been supported throughout this entire journey by both the university and the college,” Lynch said. “We work to help people, and here we have the opportunity to expand the reach even further.”