Prestigious annual pediatric medical device pitch competition returns with $150K in FDA awards and accelerator program

Applications are now open until April 22 for innovations addressing unmet pediatric needs

Washington DC, Apr. 5, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI), in partnership with MedTech Innovator, recognizes the ongoing gap in the development and commercialization of pediatric versus adult medical devices, accepts until April 22, 2022 for its annual “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition. Recognizing the wide range of unmet needs for diagnostic and therapeutic devices designed specifically for children, this year is open to any innovation in medical technology that addresses a significant unmet need in pediatric medical care.

“As one of five FDA Pediatric Device Consortia, NCC-PDI is focused on seeking out and addressing important unmet needs in pediatric medical technology,” said Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., MBA, PMP, vice president. president and chief innovation officer at Children’s National Hospital and principal investigator of NCC-PDI. “While great strides are being made in adult medical devices, children are often left behind because the pediatric market is small and there is no incentive to develop for pediatrics. This pitch competition helps to recognize and support the advancement of innovations that can specifically address the needs of pediatric patients.”

Using a virtual format, semi-finalists chosen from all entries will make their first pitch on May 20, 2022. Up to six finalists selected from this first round will earn entry into a dedicated pediatric track of the MedTech Innovator accelerator program , the largest medical device accelerator in the world, starting in June 2022. These innovators will then compete in the competition finals in the fall of 2022, where the jury will award up to $150,000 in FDA-sponsored grants to the devices selected as the most impactful and commercially viable devices.

“Medical devices made for children face many unique hurdles in the journey to commercialization. That’s why it’s so important to support through MedTech Innovator’s accelerator program, where we provide emerging innovators with valuable mentoring and guidance from experienced industry leaders,” said Paul Grand, CEO of MedTech Innovator. “Our program is designed to build a strong foundation that propels innovators to the market where they can positively impact children’s health.”

Story continues

Unlike adult devices, the development and commercialization of medical devices for children lags behind by about five to ten years. Programs such as the NCC-PDI pitch competition and the MedTech Innovator accelerator program provide innovators with access to expert insight and advice to overcome regulatory hurdles and make progress. the product development process.

“For years, doctors have been challenged by the lack of innovation in the pediatric space. Advanced technologies that address the unique developmental needs of children are essential to advancing children’s health,” said William E. Bentley, Ph.D., Robert E. Fischell, distinguished professor and director of the Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices at the university. from Maryland. “We look forward to welcoming viable innovations to this year’s competition and helping entrepreneurs take this important next step on the road to commercialization.”

NCC-PDI is one of five members of the FDA’s Pediatric Device Consortia Grant Program established to support the development and commercialization of pediatric medical devices. NCC-PDI is led by Children’s National’s Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland with support from partners MedTech Innovator, BioHealth Innovation and design firm Archimedic.

Eskandanian adds that supporting the advancement of pediatric innovators is a key focus of the new Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus, a unique ecosystem that fuels discoveries that save and improve children’s lives. On a nearly 12-acre portion of the former historic Walter Reed Army Medical Center in northwest Washington, DC, Children’s National has combined its strengths with those of public and private partners, including industry, universities, federal agencies, startup companies and academic medical centers. The campus offers a rich environment of public and private partners that, like the NCC-PDI network, will help bolster pediatric innovation and commercialization.

Visit the MedTech Innovator website for more information and to register for the upcoming NCC-PDI pitch competition.

†

About National Children’s Hospital

Located in Washington, DC, Children’s National Hospital was founded in 1870 to help every child grow stronger. Today, it ranks among the top 10 children’s hospitals in the country. It ranked #1 for newborn care for the fifth year in a row and ranked in all specialties rated by US News & World Report. Children’s National is transforming pediatrics for all children. The Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first of its kind pediatric hub dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for children. Children’s National has been designated a Magnet® hospital three times in a row, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care. This academic pediatric health system provides expert care through a convenient community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the DC metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children’s National is home to the Children’s National Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is known for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. As a non-profit organization, Children’s National Hospital relies on generous donors to ensure each child receives the care they need.

For more information, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

About the University of Maryland

The University of Maryland, College Park is the state’s flagship university and one of the nation’s premier public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,000 students, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 300 academic programs. One of the nation’s top producers of Fulbright scientists, the faculty includes two Nobel laureates, six Pulitzer laureates and 58 members of the national academies. The institution has an operating budget of $2.3 billion and annually raises more than $1.3 billion in research funding together with the University of Maryland, Baltimore. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit www.umd.edu.

About MedTech Innovator

Based in Los Angeles, California, MedTech Innovator is the largest accelerator of medical device companies in the world and the leading nonprofit startup accelerator in the medical technology industry. Its mission is to improve patients’ lives by accelerating the growth of companies transforming the healthcare system. MedTech Innovator connects healthcare leaders with innovative early-stage and emerging-growth medtech companies for mentorship and support. To learn more about MedTech Innovator, visit https://medtechinnovator.org/ and follow @MedTechAwards on Twitter and LinkedIn. To receive industry insights and highlights about MedTech Innovator’s current and alumni-participating companies, subscribe to its monthly newsletter.

Media contact: Samantha Desmond | 713-524-8170 | (973) 903-8300 or Cherri Carbonara | 713-524-8170 | (832) 473-6380

CONTACT: Tyrone Williams Children’s National Hospital 20282116678 Twilliams5@CHILDRENSNATIONAL.ORG