The Healthtech Podcast #419 Mark Kendall from WearOptimo: How Micro-Needles Are Quietly Replacing Blood Draws
Oct 15, 2025
Mark Kendall, a leading biomedical engineer and founder of WearOptimo, shares his groundbreaking insights on microneedle technology. He discusses the evolution from rocket vaccine delivery to wearable microneedles that monitor hydration in real time. Mark explains the significance of skin as a major indicator of hydration and how his innovative sensors outperform traditional blood draws in clinical trials. He also highlights the potential applications in sports and chronic care, emphasizing the need for early detection in health management.
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From Rockets To Vaccine Microneedles
- Mark Kendall became a biomedical engineer after shifting from rockets to vaccine delivery following a chance conversation at a conference.
- He developed a gold-particle “gene gun” approach at Oxford and later created microneedle vaccine patches at Queensland.
Respect Skin’s Messy Biology
- Kendall learned the skin is highly variable and messy compared to engineered materials, which forces new design thinking.
- He advocates designing from physiological need rather than forcing a pre-built widget onto biology.
Design For Physiology, Not Prebuilt Widgets
- Design devices from the ground up to meet the specific physiological need you identify.
- Avoid forcing generic hardware onto biological interfaces without understanding variability.