19-Year-Old Dasia Taylor Has Invented Medical Sutures That Could Revolutionize Post-Surgery Care

At just 17 years old, Dasia Taylor, a high school junior from Iowa City, made waves in the world of science with her groundbreaking invention : color-changing medical sutures that use beet juice to detect surgical infections .

Taylor’s innovative work , which aims to address disparities in healthcare for people of color , catapulted her into the national spotlight , leading her to win multiple science competitions and make appearances on prominent platforms like “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “PBS NewsHour,” and CNN .

Taylor’s invention was born out of her equity work . Research shows that Black people are disproportionately affected by post-surgical infections, with common signs like skin redness and swelling often harder to detect on darker skin tones .

Her solution? A simple, low-cost suture that changes color in the presence of infection , offering a critical tool for low- and middle-income countries where treatable infections can often become deadly.

Despite her lack of prior experience in science fairs, Taylor’s innate curiosity and commitment to making a difference drove her success.

Her invention garnered widespread acclaim, and she became a finalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search , the prestigious “Super Bowl” of high school science competitions.

Now 19, Taylor is not only a college student but also the founder and CEO of VariegateHealth, a medical device company focused on inclusion .

She is also the face of her own “head nerd brand,” using hands-on innovation workshops to inspire young students to explore science and live authentically.

Taylor remains focused on the long-term development of her suture technology , seeking patents and building a team to bring the device to market. Her journey has been one of persistence, and she’s committed to inspiring others along the way.

“There are a ton of kids out there that, historically, are not supposed to achieve what I’ve achieved, ” she says. “For me to tell them, ‘Hey, I did this, you can do that.’”

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