Catalyst is proud to announce its latest investment in Starling Medical, a cutting-edge predictive algorithm startup that is transforming healthcare through continuous urine monitoring technology. This innovative device marks a breakthrough in remote diagnostics and care management, enabling real-time monitoring of components in urine aiming to manage and prevent diseases like urinary tract infections (UTIs). The investment reflects Catalyst’s ongoing commitment to designing new preventative care models, improving healthcare outcomes and expanding access to timely care.
Starling Medical’s novel device uses an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer to measure multiple components in urine, allowing healthcare providers to monitor the progression of specific disease states. Initially focused on recurrent UTIs, this technology empowers physicians to prescribe the device for home use, allowing efficient triaging of patients and improving patient outcomes while freeing up healthcare resources.
“We currently flush away critical information in urine down the toilet every day. For adults living with chronic health conditions, accessing care—even as simple as providing a urine sample—can be confusing, logistically challenging, or even shame-inducing, often preventing patients from getting the care they need. This technology has the potential to be a game-changer,” said Dr. Murphy Townsend, Urologist, Wellstar Health System. “It is estimated that 150 million UTIs occur yearly world-wide and account for $6 billion in annual healthcare costs. Starling has the potential to significantly reduce the burden UTIs pose on both patients and the healthcare system by enabling early detection, timely intervention, and ultimately prevention. Furthermore, the ability to monitor urine biomarkers daily will help strike a balance between necessary treatment and proper antibiotic stewardship, which is critical in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.”
By making daily urine monitoring possible from home, Starling Medical’s technology empowers patients to take control of their health while providing healthcare providers with critical data to detect possible disease progression and avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. This is particularly important for elderly patients or rural patients who may struggle with accessing traditional care settings.
“We are thrilled to partner with Catalyst by Wellstar. Their investment is a testament to our shared vision of revolutionizing healthcare. We are eager to leverage their deep clinical expertise to accelerate our growth and deliver innovative solutions to patients.” said Hannah McKenney, CEO and Co Founder of Starling Medical.
“At Catalyst, we seek out innovative solutions that can disrupt traditional care models. Starling Medical is redesigning how chronic UTIs are handled today and opening the door for more disease prevention as they continue to develop their device. We are proud to back their efforts in bringing this next-generation technology to market,” said Jaimie Clark, Head of Innovation at Catalyst by Wellstar and Director of Innovation and Venture Strategy for Wellstar Health System
This will help bring Starling’s groundbreaking solutions to market faster, enhancing the healthcare experience for patients globally.
A pilot project is currently in development to leverage Starling’s technology with Wellstar providers.
For more information on Catalyst’s efforts to reshape healthcare and support startups like Starling Medical, visit https://catalyst.wellstar.org.
For more information on Starling Medical, visit https://starlingmedical.com.
