CortiCheck™
CortiCheck™ Current Stage
CortiCheck™ is entering a structured research and validation planning phase and is being formally transitioned into a Delaware C corporation to support future investment, governance, and development if the work advances.
CortiCheck™ is currently being temporarily housed here because this initiative began within United4Rare as a patient-led effort to address a critical unmet need in adrenal insufficiency: the lack of timely, actionable cortisol monitoring. As this work grows, we are moving forward purposefully and with transparency to create the right structure for the next phase.
Early community engagement and advocacy work helped define the problem and build stakeholder interest.
We are now advancing into the next stage, focused on evaluating scientific feasibility, validation pathways, and real-world clinical relevance. This phase includes collaboration discussions with academic and clinical partners and exploration of comparative clinical effectiveness research frameworks.
As this work evolves, CortiCheck™ is being structured through a Delaware C corp framework to support a clear, investment-ready pathway for future fundraising and product development if the research and validation process supports moving forward. This step also helps maintain cleaner separation between research convening, nonprofit activities, and any future commercial development pathway.
No commercial device currently exists.
The purpose of this stage is to determine whether improved cortisol monitoring can be validated in a way that meaningfully improves patient outcomes, including crisis prevention, emergency utilization, and quality of life.
If validation demonstrates feasibility, safety, and clinical utility, a future commercial pathway may be pursued. At this time, the focus remains on responsible research, stakeholder engagement, and evidence generation.
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Because right now, that test doesn’t exist. In emergency rooms, cortisol isn’t even ordered. It’s considered “non-urgent,” a send-out test that takes days to return — long after the crisis has passed. For people living with adrenal insufficiency, that gap can mean the difference between stabilization and catastrophe.
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From Harvard’s Global Genes Symposium to new biosensor partnerships, CortiCheck™ is gaining momentum. Founder Kirsten Norgaard shares milestones, challenges, and how you can help move this life-saving device from concept to patients.
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FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is behind CortiCheck™?
CortiCheck™ was founded by Kirsten Norgaard, a rare disease advocate and mother to a son with adrenal insufficiency. With more than 17 years of experience supporting families, shaping policy, and working with global clinicians, she brings both professional expertise and personal dedication. The project is advanced under United4Rare LLC, with guidance from scientific advisors and external collaborators.
How far along is development?
CortiCheck™ is moving from concept into creation and validation.Human studies will follow as soon as protocols are finalized.
Will CortiCheck™ be tested globally?
Yes. We are preparing for a global clinical trial with partners across North America and Europe. International collaboration is a key part of ensuring access and diversity in the data we collect.
How is CortiCheck™ funded?
So far, CortiCheck™ has been supported entirely through community crowdfunding. While these donations have kept momentum alive, they are not pre-orders and do not guarantee access to the device. As a thank you, donors will be prioritized for early access once CortiCheck™ is ready.
At the same time, we are actively building a more robust fundraising strategy with our proposed new collaborators. This includes pursuing capital investment, grants, and global partnerships to ensure CortiCheck™ has the resources it needs to move through validation and into patient hands.
How do you ensure transparency and accountability?
Transparency is central to our work. We are committed to registering human studies on ClinicalTrials.gov and European registries once protocols are finalized. In the meantime, we rely on external advisors, scientific collaborators, and legal counsel to guide development and provide oversight. All patient stories, images, and videos are shared only with informed consent and used respectfully.
Our stories need to be told!
What would CortiCheck mean to you?
How could it change your life?
We're seeking testimonials and/or blogs for our innitiative.
Sharing our stories will help motivate investors and donors!
About The Founder
I’m Kirsten Norgaard, founder of CortiCheck™ and a long-time rare disease advocate, innovator, and health coach. For more than 17 years, I’ve worked on the frontlines of rare disease communities—supporting families, shaping policy, and partnering with clinicians and researchers to bring forward new solutions where none existed.
My son lives with adrenal insufficiency, a condition where timely cortisol monitoring can mean the difference between stability and a life-threatening emergency. That personal connection is why I’ve devoted my career to building the tools patients and caregivers truly need.
I’ve led legislative efforts, collaborated with global research teams, and helped design clinical trials—all while keeping the patient voice at the center. These experiences give me a unique ability to connect science, advocacy, and lived experience.
With CortiCheck™, I’m bringing that full background to one goal: to create the first real-time cortisol test. From concept to creation to validation, my mission is to ensure this technology reaches patients and families worldwide—quickly, safely, and with their needs guiding every step.
Contact Kirsten: kirsten@United4Rare.com