The National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI) announced that it is accepting applications for its “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids” competition — this time with a focus on neonatal and NICU device innovators and startup companies.
The competition is part of the 7th annual pediatric device innovation symposium, “Pediatric Device Clinical Trials: Forging a Better Path,” hosted by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System on Sept. 22 in Boston. Because the pediatric device clinical trial process is significantly more challenging than drug trials, the goal of the one-day symposium is to identify progressive methods to validate medical devices for children, according to the institute.
“The challenges inherent in the pediatric device clinical trial process can significantly impede the path to commercialization of much-needed medical devices for children,” said Kolaleh Eskandanian, vice president and chief innovation officer at Children’s National Health System, in a news release. “At the symposium, our experts will provide the latest insights for biohealth innovators and clinicians on progressive methods of validating medical devices for children.”
The symposium, which co-locates with AdvaMed’s The MedTech Conference, will present multidisciplinary panel discussions that address critical issues related to pediatric device development, regulatory processes, device clinical trials and gaps in pediatric healthcare innovation. Insights from the symposium will inform a white paper detailing best practices for stakeholders involved in stimulating pediatric device innovation and to bring solutions to market more quickly.
Contest entrants may apply by Aug. 12, 2019, for a chance to receive awards up to $50,000 and participate in the newly created “Pediatric Device Innovator Accelerator Program” led by MedTech Innovator.
NCC-PDI is an FDA-funded consortium focused on addressing unmet needs for pediatric medical devices. It is led by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland. The consortium recently added new accelerators BioHealth Innovation and MedTech Innovator and design firm partner, Archimedic.
To register for the symposium, visit themedtechconference.com. For the symposium agenda and additional event details, visit pediatric-device-symposium.org. To apply for the pitch competition, visit medtechinnovator.org/pediatricapply/.
