AUT Professor named a finalist in NZ Innovators Awards 2014
AUT University Professor of Neurology and Epidemiology Valery Feigin has been announced as a finalist in two categories of the New Zealand Innovators Awards 2014 – ‘Innovation in Health and Science’ and ‘Most Inspiring Individual’.
The annual New Zealand Innovators Awards are aimed at celebrating and recognising great innovation and commercialisation activity taking place in New Zealand organisations, and this year received an estimated 300 entries across a broad range of industries.
Professor Feigin’s brainchild, the Stroke RiskometerTM, was shortlisted for this year’s ‘Innovation in Health and Science’ award category. The free app enables users to assess their individual stroke risk on a smartphone or tablet (by evaluating factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, family history and lifestyle), and helps them play an active role in managing their health.
Stroke is one of the country’s leading killers and up to 90 per cent of strokes could be prevented, according to Professor Feigin. “The Stroke Riskometer helps people to see what impact steps like exercising more, eating a healthier diet and drinking less alcohol are having on their personal risk profile, and helps users to stay motivated and maintain the positive lifestyle changes they choose to make”, he says.
The app, which is endorsed by the World Stroke Organization and World Federation of Neurology, is already being used by health-conscious people in more than 70 countries and is available for download through the Apple App and Google Play stores.
On learning the news of the award finalists, Professor Feigin commented, “I am delighted to hear that the Stroke Riskometer is a finalist in the New Zealand Innovation Awards. To get to the finals is fantastic recognition for the team involved, and I would like to thank the AUT project team for their invaluable contribution to the Stroke Riskometer and to disease prevention more generally.”
Professor Feigin is also in the running for the ‘Most Inspiring Individual’ award. He caught the eye of this year’s awards evaluators, who were inspired by his efforts and hand-picked him as a finalist in this select evaluator-nominated category.
The winners of the New Zealand Innovators Awards 2014 will be announced at an awards ceremony on 15 October 2014. For more information, visit www.innovators.org.nz.