Following the 2015/16 BioInnovate program, John partnered up with fellow graduate Tony O'Halloran to create Aurigen Medical, a company devoted to developing a novel cardiac implant technology to treat persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Upon award of an Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund Grant in 2016, the duo’s work has received significant international attention, winning the 2017 EIT Headstart Award and being selected to present at the prestigious EuroPCR Innovators Day in May 2018 in Paris. Aurigen Medical intends to spinout from National University of Ireland, Galway by the end of 2018, with a first in human trial scheduled for 2020. Aurigen also recently placed first out of 1,280 companies to win a €2.5million SME Instrument funding grant from EU’s Horizon2020 to help the company quickly scale its novel innovation.

Bioinnovate has been instrumental in bringing Tony and I together and providing us with the tools, guidance, network and support necessary to begin our journey in medical device innovation. I will be forever indebted to the entire Bioinnovate team and extended network of mentors for their experience, enthusiasm and generosity.