The spin-off FetaLife Technologies is developing a liquid incubator specifically designed for extremely premature babies born between 22 and 26 weeks of gestation, a technology that could transform their care and improve their chances of survival.

We spoke to Dr Elisenda Bonet, CEO of the spin-off promoted by the University of Barcelona, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, about the journey from research to market and the challenges involved in bringing this innovation to patients.

How did the idea of creating this spin-off come about?

The project to create an artificial placenta began in 2018-2019 within the BCNatal research group. In 2021, we received funding from the “la Caixa” Foundation and, since then, further donations, bringing the total investment in research to more than €10 million.

In 2024, we began to obtain very promising results with a minimum viable product that was already working in an animal model. At that point, we found ourselves in the research “valley of death”: we had already demonstrated that the technology worked, but developing a medical device for premature babies requires a lengthy and complex regulatory process. Creating the spin-off was the natural next step to take this technology from the laboratory to the babies who need it.

What has the journey been like from research project to spin-off?

It has been a very long journey. The concept of an artificial placenta has existed since the 1950s, but the technology was not sufficiently advanced to make it a reality. We started with experimental models in which survival was limited to just a few minutes.

What have been the main challenges you have encountered?

It has been challenging because there was no existing technology on the market that we could use: almost every component has had to be developed or adapted. The most difficult, but also the most rewarding, part has been building a multidisciplinary team in which every person plays an essential role, from technical staff to specialist surgeons.

What role has interdisciplinarity played in the development of the project?

Without this interdisciplinary approach, we would not be where we are today. Medical expertise and technology are equally essential; neither side could have progressed without the other. Moreover, this project is the result of many years of previous experience. Our team includes leading professionals in fetal medicine and surgery and neonatology who have first-hand knowledge of patients’ needs. This expertise, combined with collaboration with technology specialists, has enabled us to progress much faster than would have been possible if we had started from scratch.

What value does the collaboration between the University of Barcelona, Hospital Clínic and Hospital Sant Joan de Déu bring to the project?

It is a key factor. Doctors and engineers have worked side by side from day one, making it possible to rapidly translate clinical needs into technological solutions. Developing the project within a hospital environment is also essential, as healthcare professionals are in direct contact with patients and have first-hand knowledge of their needs. This connection is what makes an innovation like ours possible.

FetaLife has recently achieved significant results in the development of the liquid incubator. What are the next steps for this technology to reach hospitals and benefit patients?

At FetaLife, our goal is to conduct the first-in-human trial. We are currently working with the Spanish Medicines Agency to define all the necessary preclinical tests, including toxicity and biocompatibility studies. The next step is to close a funding round that will allow us to complete this phase and move towards the first human trial.

What advice would you give to researchers considering creating a spin-off?

The most important thing is to get good advice and surround yourself with the right people. If researchers are considering creating a spin-off, I would recommend talking to other entrepreneurs. There is a strong willingness among spin-off CEOs to share their experiences and help one another.

At some point, you also have to decide what kind of impact you want your research to have. Is it worth publishing three more papers, or is it more important to make sure that research reaches patients? For me, it is far more important for research to reach patients and help save lives.

More about… Elisenda Bonet

The greatest invention in history?

The wheel.

What would you like to see in the future?

A world without wars.

A future development that scares you?

I worry that, in creating solutions to make life easier for future generations, we may be creating a world of increasingly individualistic people with less sense of community.

A role model?

Ingrid Daubechies.

What could be done to achieve equality between men and women?

Refer to all of us simply as people and remove all the cultural connotations we associate with men and women.

Knowledge transfer is important because…

It gives knowledge back to society and creates real impact.