{{short description|Irish biotechnology pioneer}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Jemma Redmond | image = <!-- just the filename, without the File: or Image: prefix or enclosing brackets --> | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1978|3|16}} | birth_place = Tallaght, Ireland | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2016|8|16|1978|3|16}} | death_place = | occupation = Biotechnologist, innovator | known_for = | website = }}
'''Jemma Redmond''' (16 March 1978 – 16 August 2016) was an Irish biotechnology pioneer and innovator. She was a co-founder of 3D bio-printing firm Ourobotics, developers of the first-ever ten-material bio-printer.<ref name=siliconrep /> Redmond designed a way of keeping living cells alive while printed using 3D printers,<ref name="guardian" /> making her a leading figure in Irish science and technology.<ref name=siliconrep />
== Early life == Born in Tallaght, South Dublin, Redmond studied electronic engineering before earning her undergraduate degree in applied physics at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen in 2002. She later returned to university, completing a master's degree in nano-bioscience at University College Dublin in 2012, along with qualifications in project management and electronic engineering.<ref name=guardian /> Her interest in nano-bioscience was sparked by an intersex condition that made her infertile.<ref name=guardian>{{Cite news| issn = 0261-3077| last = Belton| first = Pádraig| title = Jemma Redmond obituary| work = The Guardian| accessdate = 22 September 2016| date = 21 September 2016| url = https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/sep/20/jemma-redmond-obituary}}</ref><ref name=newstalk>{{cite web | url = https://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.305.362/68678/blog_list/ | title = Kickstart Your Business: Ouro-botics | work = Newstalk | date = 24 March 2016 | access-date = 22 September 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170512010501/http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.305.362/68678/blog_list/ | archive-date = 12 May 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name = "baird2016">{{cite web | url = https://www.smh.com.au/comment/the-women-of-science-who-never-got-the-credit-they-deserved-20161229-gtjh1x.html | title = The women of science who never got the credit they deserved | last = Baird | first = Julia | authorlink = Julia Baird (journalist) | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 31 December 2016 | accessdate = 17 January 2017}}</ref> She started bioprinting by building her own devices in her kitchen.<ref name=sosv>{{cite web | url = https://sosv.com/female-founder-spotlight-jemma-redmond/ | title = Female Founder Spotlight: Jemma Redmond of Ouro_botics | first = Kayla | last = Liederbach | work = SOSV | date = 18 September 2015 | access-date = 22 September 2016 | archive-date = 26 January 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012833/https://sosv.com/female-founder-spotlight-jemma-redmond/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
== Career ==
A serial entrepreneur, Redmond created a company manufacturing vending machines in 2008, before co-founding Ourobotics in January 2015, with Alanna Kelly from Galway, Ireland, and backing from SOSV.<ref name=thejournal /> Kelly resigned as director in July 2015. Tony Herbert, entrepreneur and owner of technical optics company Irish Precision Optics, from Cork became a director of Ourobotics in August 2015 and the company moved to the optics company premises in Cork City. Redmond designed and marketed two bio-printers including, in 2016, a printer capable of printing human tissue,<ref name=thejournal>{{cite web | url = https://fora.ie/printing-organs-and-limbs-ireland-2613007-Feb2016/ | title = This startup says conservative Ireland is afraid to fund world-changing biotech | first = Killian | last = Woods | date = 21 February 2016 | work = Fora}}</ref> and at a much lower cost than previous bio-printers.<ref name=guardian /> Redmond's first device printed an extended finger, described by Pádraig Belton as "a gentle reply to those who had called printing organs of such complexity impossible."<ref name=guardian />
In January 2016, the company won first prize in a prestigious international competition, ''Silicon Valley Open Doors Europe''.<ref name=indo /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://3dprintingindustry.com/news/ourobotics-takes-home-silicon-valley-google-award-65858/ | title = Ourobotics Takes Home Silicon Valley Google Award with 10 Material Bioprinter | work = 3DPrintingIndustry.com | date = 3 February 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://svod-europe.com/svod-europe-conference-2016/ | title = SVOD Europe Conference 2016 | work = SVOD Europe | date = 2 February 2016 | access-date = 22 September 2016 | archive-date = 27 August 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190827104637/http://svod-europe.com/svod-europe-conference-2016/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> The company was also selected as part of a start-up adoption program by Google.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.corkindependent.com/business/topics/articles/2016/04/28/4118790-4-cork-companies-adopted-by-google/ | title = 4 Cork companies adopted by Google | work = Cork Independent | date = 28 April 2016 | access-date = 22 September 2016 | archive-date = 27 August 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190827104636/https://www.corkindependent.com/business/topics/articles/2016/04/28/4118790-4-cork-companies-adopted-by-google/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
== Death ==
Redmond died unexpectedly in August 2016.<ref name=siliconrep>{{Cite web| last = Hunt| first = Gordon| work = Silicon Republic| accessdate = 22 September 2016| date = 17 August 2016| url = https://www.siliconrepublic.com/start-ups/ourobotics-jemma-redmond | title = 'Inspirational' Ourobotics founder Jemma Redmond dies unexpectedly}}</ref><ref name = guardian /><ref>{{cite web| url = https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/gone-in-2016-10-notable-women-in-science-and-technology/ | title = Gone in 2016: 10 Notable Women in Science and Technology | work = Scientific American | date = 28 December 2016 | last = Weinstock | first = Maia | authorlink = Maia Weinstock | accessdate = 17 January 2017}}</ref> Her mother described it as a "tragic accident".<ref>{{cite news |title=Sudden death of 'inspiring' scientist shocks colleagues |first=Allison |last=Bray |date=19 August 2016 |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/sudden-death-of-inspiring-scientist-shocks-colleagues/34977729.html |work=Herald |access-date=11 April 2018}}</ref> She was described as a polymath,<ref name=siliconrep /> an inspiration and great friend.<ref name=indo>{{Cite web| last = Cogley| first = Michael| title = Friends left 'shocked and saddened' as young Irish CEO passes away unexpectedly| work = Irish Independent | accessdate = 22 September 2016| date = 18 August 2016 | url = http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/friends-left-shocked-and-saddened-as-young-irish-ceo-passes-away-unexpectedly-34975672.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://fora.ie/jemma-redmond-ourobotics-2934613-Aug2016/ | title = The head of Irish biotech company Ourobotics has died unexpectedly | date = 18 August 2016 | first = Killian | last = Woods | work = Fora}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=c&en |url=https://cen.acs.org/people/lgbtq-scientist-chemist-history/99/web/2021/06}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Redmond, Jemma}} Category:1978 births Category:2016 deaths Category:20th-century Irish LGBTQ people Category:21st-century Irish LGBTQ people Category:Biotechnologists Category:Intersex women Category:Irish intersex people Category:Irish women scientists Category:Irish LGBTQ scientists Category:21st-century women scientists Category:Women biotechnologists Category:21st-century Irish biologists Category:21st-century women biologists Category:Alumni of Robert Gordon University Category:Alumni of University College Dublin Category:Accidental deaths in the Republic of Ireland