Department of Biomedical Engineering
Mentor: Tay Netoff, Ph.D., Department of Biomedical Engineering
Dr. Elizabeth Bottorff is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and is currently an Innovation/MnDRIVE ACTIVATE Fellow through the Bakken Medical Device Center, supported by MnDRIVE Brain Conditions. During her PhD at the University of Michigan, she studied peripheral neuromodulation as a potential treatment for sexual dysfunction. Now at the University of Minnesota, working on neuromodulation therapies for women with spinal cord injury and exploring new applications for menopausal symptoms.
As a women's health researcher, Dr. Bottorff often questions what continues to stymie progress and innovation in her field. Beyond the well-documented historical underfunding and systemic barriers, what are the other obstacles between bench and bedside? Like many academics, she has many ideas about new technologies (many involving neuromodulation), but has been hesitant to pursue any of them until this program. Dr. Bottorff at the time lacked the skills to assess which were the most promising from different perspectives beyond just the science.
The Innovation Fellows Program (MnDRIVE ACTIVATE) is an incredibly unique learning opportunity that walks through the biodesign process: a structured approach to identifying unmet clinical needs and developing medical device solutions that can actually reach patients. Now, only halfway through the program, Dr. Bottorff has learned an incredible amount about the unique challenges that startups face, many of which have nothing to do with whether the technology works. For instance, she has learned about regulatory pathways, reimbursement strategies, manufacturing considerations, and most importantly, systematic customer discovery with patients and clinicians. Dr. Bottorff is inspired to focus on helping women manage severe hot flashes, particularly the nighttime symptoms that disrupt sleep for millions of Minnesota women. She is working toward commercialization with the help of the UMN and Twin Cities medical device ecosystems.
Through extensive interviews with healthcare providers and menopausal women, Dr. Bottorff has discovered that technical innovation is only part of the equation. Understanding the actual problem from the patient's perspective and building a viable path to market are equally critical. Hot flashes affect up to 80% of women during menopause, and for many (particularly breast cancer survivors who cannot take hormone therapy), there are limited effective treatment options. Sleep disruption from nighttime hot flashes leads to daytime fatigue, cognitive impairment, and reduced quality of life, impacting women's ability to work and care for families.
Dr. Bottoroff looks forward to incorporating what she has learned into her research as well as sharing these lessons with other women's health entrepreneurs. In the future, Dr. Bottorff would like to consult for other femtech founders, helping them navigate the journey from idea to impact. MnDRIVE ACTIVATE funding has been transformative for her professional development, enabling her to explore commercialization pathways for technologies that could genuinely improve women's lives while building skills that will serve her throughout her career.
Dr. Bottorff advises to stay curious, challenge your own assumptions, and reach out to people. The most valuable insights she has gained haven't come from textbooks, they've come from conversations with patients, clinicians, and entrepreneurs who generously shared their experiences. The Twin Cities community is remarkably supportive of people willing to learn and contribute.
