Insights for Innovators: Q&A Judges Series with Manuela Pucca
Translating cutting-edge science into field-ready solutions requires a balance between technological innovation and practical reality. Dr. Manuela Pucca, an expert in toxinology and judge for the Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize, explains what it takes to bridge the gap between advanced research and real-world impact.
We spoke with Manuela about the role of emerging technologies, the importance of co-designing with remote and Indigenous communities, and how a challenge prize can redefine the landscape of snakebite care.
What technologies would you like to see in the Prize?
I would love to see innovations that make snakebite treatment faster, more accurate, accessible, and effective–from AI and biosensors to rapid diagnostics and toxin detection. But innovation should not be measured by technological sophistication alone. The real question is: Can this solution work where snakebite happens? The strongest innovations will combine science with affordability, simplicity, robustness, and a clear pathway to impact.
"The strongest innovations will combine science with affordability, simplicity, robustness, and a clear pathway to impact."
How can innovators ensure solutions are appropriate for remote and Indigenous populations?
Solutions must be developed with communities, not simply for them. Local knowledge, culture, language, health practices, infrastructure, and priorities need to be considered from the beginning. A solution that cannot be realistically implemented in a remote setting will not translate into meaningful impact.
In three words, what makes a strong entry?
Impact. Feasibility. Innovation.
How can the Prize raise the global profile of snakebite?
Snakebite requires more than one discipline. Bringing together medicine, public health, technology, epidemiology, social sciences, and health systems can generate new perspectives and solutions. The Prize can also demonstrate that snakebite is not only a neglected problem, it is a field where transformative innovation is possible.
How does a challenge prize differ from traditional funding?
Traditional grants often support a defined hypothesis or research programme. A challenge prize starts with a problem and invites new ideas to solve it, opening the field to people and disciplines that may not traditionally work in snakebite. This creates an opportunity to challenge established assumptions and identify solutions with genuine potential for impact.
"A challenge prize starts with a problem and invites new ideas to solve it, opening the field to people and disciplines that may not traditionally work in snakebite."
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Manuela’s guidance to entrants is that true innovation is not measured by technical complexity alone, but by whether a solution actually works where snakebites occur. Whether leveraging AI or rapid diagnostics, impactful tools must combine scientific rigor with affordability, simplicity, and active community co-design. By bringing together diverse fields to challenge traditional assumptions, innovators have the chance to transform snakebite from a neglected crisis into a beacon of global health progress.
If you have an idea that combines innovation, feasibility, and meaningful impact, you could use the prize to turn your concept into a reality. Enter the Wellcome Snakebite Innovation Prize before 16 September 2026.
