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Maria Artunduaga

Maria Artunduaga

Physician-scientist and CEO innovating lung health with AI wearables

Mountain View, California
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Joined July 2025
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Summary

Maria Artunduaga is a physician-scientist with a strong background in both clinical medicine and genetics research, having worked as a primary care physician, a plastic surgery resident, and a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School. Her academic work includes significant contributions to understanding genetic conditions, with publications in top-tier journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine and Nature Genetics. colombiaharvard+4
Driven by a personal tragedy—the loss of her grandmother to COPD—Maria transitioned from a surgical career to become an innovative entrepreneur. She founded Samay (initially Respira Labs) with a mission to revolutionize respiratory care through technology, specifically developing the AI-powered wearable 'Sylvee' for early detection of COPD exacerbations, thereby addressing a critical gap in home-based lung health monitoring. rockhealth+5
Maria is recognized for her strong leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in the digital health sector. She has successfully secured significant funding, including non-dilutive grants, and led her startup to win prestigious awards like the MedTech Innovator. Her expertise spans clinical, research, and business leadership, making her a formidable force in bringing medical innovations to market. rockhealth+3
A staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion in STEM, Maria mentors underrepresented scientists and entrepreneurs. She actively volunteers as a STEM role model and speaker, inspiring future generations and working to foster more inclusive environments within the technology and medical fields. medtechcolor+1

Work

Education

Projects

Writing

Damaging variants in FOXI3 cause microtia and craniofacial microsomia

January 1, 2023

Co-authored research on genetic variants in FOXI3 causing microtia and craniofacial microsomia, published in Genetics in Medicine.

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An ancient founder mutation located between ROBO1 and ROBO2 is responsible for increased microtia risk in Amerindigenous populations

January 1, 2022

Contributed to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, identifying a founder mutation linked to increased microtia risk in Amerindigenous populations.

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De novo copy number variants identify new genes and loci in isolated sporadic tetralogy of Fallot

January 1, 2009

Co-authored a paper published in Nature Genetics, identifying novel genetic variants associated with sporadic tetralogy of Fallot, a complex congenital heart defect.

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A classic twin study of external ear malformations, including microtia

January 1, 2009

Authored a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, investigating external ear malformations through a classic twin study design.

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Hobbies

Maria enjoys flamenco dancing and bolero singing, showcasing her creative and artistic side. rockhealth+1

She has a passion for travel and exploring the world, often visiting museums to foster her creativity. rockhealth+1

She indulges in creative arts including sculpture and painting, and photography. fogartyinnovation