Dr Agnes Musiol on smart patches, biomarker tracking, preventive healthcare, regulatory hurdles, startup reality, and why medicine needs to move beyond isolated snapshots.

In this episode, we discuss:

– Why today’s healthcare system still relies too heavily on “snapshot diagnostics” – How smart patches could enable continuous monitoring of biochemical signals – The difference between sweat, interstitial fluid, and capillary blood as data sources – Biomarkers such as sodium, potassium, lactate, troponin, and hormones – Why continuous real-world data could change prevention and personalized medicine – The challenge of translating sensor research into practical, wearable products – pheal’s platform approach to smart patches and reusable electronics – Wellness products vs. certified medical devices – Why startups often enter the wellness market before medical certification – Regulatory hurdles under MDR and the need for smarter innovation pathways – Germany’s funding gap between research and product development – Why early collaboration with patients matters – The risk of overpromising in digital health and biohacking – Accessibility, responsibility, and avoiding a future where only the wealthy benefit from preventive technologies – Agnes’ experience as a female founder in a tech-driven healthcare space – Why visibility matters, even for introverted founders