Women’s health innovation FlexiGyn bags SAB Foundation Award for Social Innovation
Edmund Wessels with the FlexiGyn device
FlexiGyn™, an innovative medical device developed by Dr Edmund Wessels, PhD graduate in UCT MedTech in the Faculty of Health Sciences, is one of the winners of the SAB Foundation Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards, announced in October 2024. FlexiGyn™ is a mobile gynaecological device that allows specialists to undertake much-needed hysteroscopy procedures — internal examination of the uterus — even in under-resourced rural clinic settings.
Read more about the development and history of FlexiGyn™.
“The Social Innovation and Disability Empowerment Awards are designed to support entrepreneurs who are developing impactful solutions to address critical social challenges faced by women, youth, people in rural areas and people with disabilities,” said Bridgit Evans, Executive Director of the SAB Foundation.
This award, which comes with comprehensive support, including funding, business mentorship and coaching, comes at just the right time for Dr Wessels and his business partner Chris Meunier, as they are beginning the process of bringing the device to market. The pair founded Vas MedTech as the parent company through which to commercialise FlexiGyn™.
“Medical device development is a long journey,” said Wessels. “As we enter the final stretch, we are thrilled to have the recognition and support of the SAB Foundation to fast-track that journey.”