HemaChrome Partners with Global Health Labs to Improve Mobile Health Diagnostics
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — HemaChrome LLC, a digital mobile health startup, is collaborating with Global Health Labs Inc. (GH Labs) to refine its smartphone technology designed to measure blood hemoglobin levels. The technology, initially developed at Purdue University, utilizes a patent-pending method to extract true colors from a digital photo, enabling accurate hemoglobin assessments.
HemaChrome’s technology uses spectroscopy and computational algorithms to transform a smartphone or computer camera into a hyperspectral imager. The technology then analyzes a digital photo of the inner eyelid to instantly and noninvasively quantify and assess blood hemoglobin content. This approach facilitates point-of-care, home-based, and remote diagnostic tests for patients at a reduced cost.
According to Young Kim, HemaChrome’s founder and chief science officer, “Several factors including smartphone models, light conditions and file formats cause the actual colors to appear differently in a digital photo, so this innovation is a critical aspect of our technology and one of the key reasons GH Labs is collaborating with us — we are a pioneer in machine reading and learning of colors in the health care space.”
GH Labs, a non-profit corporation funded by Gates Ventures, the private office of Bill Gates, is supporting the advancement of HemaChrome’s algorithms. Their mission aligns with the goal of developing health technology solutions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where access to adequate healthcare is limited. The partnership, which commenced in May 2024, is anticipated to continue through 2025.
Huiri Kim, HemaChrome’s CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. “GH Labs’ mission is to facilitate innovation to reduce health disparities across the globe,” she stated. “HemaChrome’s driving force is to develop technologies that make health care more readily available to the vulnerable and underserved. While our noninvasive and affordable technology will be beneficial for everyone, it will have the most significant impact for underserved populations.”
HemaChrome has obtained support from Purdue Innovates and licenses its technology through the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization. The company has also received backing from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), winning the first prize in the NIH’s Technology Accelerator Challenge and a Phase 1 award in the RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge.
Addressing the Need for Accessible Hemoglobin Testing
Blood hemoglobin tests are a crucial indicator of various health conditions. However, the current reliance on expensive equipment, trained professionals, and invasive blood draws limits the widespread use of these tests. HemaChrome’s cost-effective and accessible technology seeks to overcome these barriers.
Huiri Kim highlighted the global impact of anemia, affecting almost 2 billion people worldwide. It ranks as the third-leading cause of disabilities, emphasizing the urgent need for more accesible testing. “Many people, especially those in low-resource settings, don’t have the resources to be tested for anemia, so they don’t realize they’re anemic and never get treated,”
Young Kim emphasized the importance of rapid anemia diagnosis. “These include sickle cell disease, kidney disease, inflammatory disease, heart failure, gastrointestinal disorders, postoperative complications, autoimmune disorders, malaria, hemorrhages and so many more,” he said. “So it’s important to have an affordable and accessible diagnostic solution.”
Governments also have a financial incentive to address anemia, as the condition can decrease productivity and negatively affect a country’s gross domestic product.
Looking Ahead
With the backing of GH Labs, HemaChrome anticipates launching a minimally viable product by late 2025. Huiri Kim said the company hopes to collaborate on projects, including their color calibration technology.
About HemaChrome
HemaChrome LLC is a Purdue University startup that has developed an innovative mobile health solution that makes blood hemoglobin testing accessible and affordable for nearly everyone by simply utilizing what most people already own — a smartphone.
About Global Health Labs Inc.
Global Health Labs Inc. (GH Labs) is a nonprofit organization funded by Gates Ventures as an independent partner to support the Gates Foundation strategies. GH Labs strives toward improving primary health care at scale to address the needs of underserved communities.
About Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization
The Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S.
