Device for monitoring urinary retention wins Cantanhede Innovation Days 2025
The project by students Anilza Cynthia Nhanala, Matilde Godinho and Pietra Martinez will receive a €1,200 prize and represent the University of Coimbra at the i-Days Final in Paris.
UriTrack, a device that monitors changes in the bladder and helps prevent urinary retention, has won this year’s Cantanhede Innovation Days (i-Days). The final session of the competition took place yesterday, 29th, at Biocant (Cantanhede) as part of the European EIT Health programme, which challenges teams of students to develop innovative solutions to real-world healthcare problems.
The project, developed by students Anilza Cynthia Nhanala, Matilde Godinho and Pietra Martinez, addresses the question: “How can patients with urinary retention, a common condition in cases such as spinal cord injury and prostate diseases, easily and affordably monitor their bladder volume?” UriTrack consists of a small, battery-free sensor placed on the urothelium (the bladder lining), which transmits data to an app, allowing users to monitor changes in bladder parameters.
The team will receive a €1,200 prize — including €500 scholarships from Basinnov Life Sciences/FHC Group and €200 from Critical Software — and will represent the University of Coimbra at the i-Days Final in Paris this November, where the best ideas developed by each participating institution will be pitched. The event is held simultaneously in 16 European countries as part of the EIT Health network.
Yesterday’s final (Wednesday 29th) featured presentations from 14 teams and the announcement of the winning idea by UC Vice-Rector for Entrepreneurship, Gabriela Fernandes, who chaired the jury. The session marked the culmination of a week of intensive work, during which participants in the Cantanhede Innovation Days tackled challenges proposed by organisations in the healthcare sector and took part in training sessions on innovation, entrepreneurship, pitching and design thinking.
Cantanhede i-Days is organised by the University of Coimbra’s R&D International Networks Unit, in collaboration with the UC Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Biocant – Technology Transfer Association, and the Coimbra Local Health Unit (Arcebispo João Crisóstomo Hospital and Rovisco Pais Hospital).
Further information is available at www.uc.pt/go/cantanhedeidays. Details about the global initiative can be found at eithealth.eu/programmes/i-days.