Readers Write: Early Innovation Matters: What I Learned Building a Glucose Sensor in High School

Early Innovation Matters: What I Learned Building a Glucose Sensor in High School
By Max Kopp

Max Kopp is a high school researcher who is focused on biomedical engineering and non-invasive sensing systems. He is also the founder and CEO of VitaSense.

Diabetes is one of the most widespread chronic diseases in the world. But continuous glucose monitoring remains inaccessible to many patients due to pain, cost, and complexity. While various needle-based solutions exist, they present a barrier to consistent use and adherence, particularly for people with type 2 diabetes who are less likely to be prescribed real-time monitors.

In high school, I began exploring whether a painless and affordable alternative could be possible using light and advanced nanomaterials. What started as a science fair project evolved into a deep investigation into photoplethysmography (PPG) and the semiconductor properties of Germanium Selenide (GeSe) as a potential medium for glucose sensing.

This work eventually became the foundation of a novel approach to non-invasive glucose monitoring that combines flexible, inkjet-printable electronics with wavelength-specific light analysis to estimate glucose concentration in the interstitial fluid beneath the skin. Because the design avoids the need for subdermal sensors or adhesives, it offers potential for broader, long-term adoption.

During the process, I encountered a range of challenges, both scientific and practical. Signal noise, calibration variability, and the need for robust motion filtering were early hurdles. Overcoming them required collaboration with academic mentors, iterative prototyping, and long nights debugging sensor arrays that were built on flexible polymers.

The research was eventually peer-reviewed and published in a scientific journal. It has also earned recognition from national youth science competitions that are focused on applied physics and health innovation. More importantly, it showed that with the right support, young researchers can meaningfully contribute to solving real healthcare problems.

This experience reinforced something critical: the innovation pipeline needs to start much earlier. Most efforts in health technology originate in universities or corporate R&D labs. But students, when given access to tools and mentorship, can identify overlooked patient needs and generate fresh ideas with remarkable speed.

Healthcare leaders should consider how to foster those early-stage ideas. Partnering with student-led projects or offering access to clinical mentors, sensor labs, or data modeling tools can help cultivate innovation from new angles. The barriers to entry are high in regulated health environments, but creating more low-risk educational bridges could lead to high-reward outcomes.

Innovation in chronic disease care will only accelerate if the ecosystem welcomes bold questions from unexpected places. Investing in curiosity, even from classrooms, might help us solve the next billion-dollar problem before it costs patients another dollar.