Oriva
Project Overview
University
Year
About
Neonatal sepsis can quickly become life-threatening, but blood cultures may take days and require blood from vulnerable newborns. Oriva uses a gentle handheld collector to obtain a saliva sample, which is processed in a portable microfluidic testing unit. The system measures sepsis-related biomarkers and sends the results to a digital interface in about two hours. Designed for clinics with limited laboratory infrastructure, it could support earlier treatment decisions, reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and expand access to newborn diagnostics in underserved regions.
Team
Yile Fan
Yile Fan is a design engineer and systems strategist pursuing a master’s degree in Design Engineering at Harvard University. With a strong foundation in hardware product development and systems thinking, Yile combines creativity and analytical rigor to address complex challenges. As part of the Oriva team, Yile takes a human-centered approach to integrating research, technology, and design, translating insights into practical solutions through interdisciplinary collaboration and iterative prototyping.
Lorenzo Barale
Lorenzo Barale is a design engineer and entrepreneur pursuing a Master in Design Engineering at Harvard University after earning a mechanical engineering degree from Boston University. Originally from Italy, he brings experience in B2B security product design and biomedical devices at the Wyss Institute. Shaped by competitive tennis and hands-on engineering, his current interests span mining technologies and consumer electronics.