Michael Barbella, Managing Editor03.15.24
Five finalists are squaring off today for the chance to win U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-funded grants for their pediatric medical devices.
The finalists are vying for victory in the Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation's (APDI) special MedTech Color edition of “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition. This edition supports pediatric medical device advancements from African American and Hispanic innovators and will award the winner up to $50,000 in FDA grants. The competition aims to advance devices that meet critical patient needs while promoting a more inclusive approach to medical technology innovation.
“The children we serve come from diverse backgrounds, so nurturing diversity among our innovators will help us ensure that their needs are met,” said Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., vice president and chief innovation officer at Children’s National and APDI program director and principal investigator. “We are delighted to partner with MedTech Color in this endeavor.”
The five pediatric medical device finalists are:
Pediatric finalists were chosen from 27 total entries by expert judges that included MedTech Color and ADPI representatives.
"The competition's additional investment in companies developing technologies for the pediatric population is significant,”MedTech Color Founder/Board Member Kwame Ulmer stated. “This means more patients will get access to medtech ecosystem accelerants. As more pitch finalists from diverse backgrounds finally get access to funding, this will provide more opportunities for children and young adults in overlooked communities."
Founded in 2017, MedTech Color is a nonprofit organization built on the ideal that diverse leadership in the medical technology ecosystem leads to greater innovation and better outcomes. The organization works to advance the representation of people of color in the medical device industry and to nurture the next generation of founders. MedTech Color aims to build a cohesive community of leaders of color, drive thought leadership and increase the number of underrepresented industry executives.
APDI, a federally funded consortium led by Children’s National Hospital, is one of five nonprofit consortia in the FDA’s Pediatric Device Consortia program that receives funding to provide a platform of services, expertise, and grants to support pediatric innovators in bringing medical devices to the market for children. Along with Children’s National, APDI members include Johns Hopkins University, CIMIT at Mass General Brigham, Tufts Medical Center, Medstar Health Research Institute, OrthoPediatrics Corp. and MedTech Color. Advancements in pediatric medical devices continue to lag significantly behind those of adults, which is the reason APDI is focused on helping more pediatric medical device innovations achieve commercialization.
Children’s National Hospital is based in Washington, D.C., and was established in 1870. Today, it is the No. 5 children’s hospital in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. 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 kids. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children’s National is home to the Children’s National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.
The finalists are vying for victory in the Alliance for Pediatric Device Innovation's (APDI) special MedTech Color edition of “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition. This edition supports pediatric medical device advancements from African American and Hispanic innovators and will award the winner up to $50,000 in FDA grants. The competition aims to advance devices that meet critical patient needs while promoting a more inclusive approach to medical technology innovation.
“The children we serve come from diverse backgrounds, so nurturing diversity among our innovators will help us ensure that their needs are met,” said Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., vice president and chief innovation officer at Children’s National and APDI program director and principal investigator. “We are delighted to partner with MedTech Color in this endeavor.”
The five pediatric medical device finalists are:
- Kofimi Technology Inc. (Danvers, Mass.) – The firm has develiped a patent-pending pulse oximeter device designed specifically for pediatric populations to provide accuracy for all levels of skin pigmentation. A pulse oximeter measures oxygen levels in the blood.
- Rubitection (Pittsburgh, Pa.) – A low-cost skin assessment management tool for chronic wounds, Rubitection measures the skin's properties. The system allows the user to monitor incremental changes in skin health to predict risk, monitor progression and customize care.
- SealCath LLC (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) – An innovative, double balloon catheter, SethCath aims to treat infants facing bowel disorders. Specifically designed for mucous fistula refeeding, this catheter offers a gentle and precise method to provide essential nutrition and support.
- TNC Medical Solutions (Los Angeles) – The company offers an advancement in gastrostomy tube (g-tube) reinsertion, designed to improve the quality of life for patients reliant on enteral feeding.
- WearableDose Inc. (Bowie, Md.) – Harnessing artificial intelligence for real-time, precise dosimetry in cancer treatment, WearableDose aims to transform patient care with innovative wearable technology.
Pediatric finalists were chosen from 27 total entries by expert judges that included MedTech Color and ADPI representatives.
"The competition's additional investment in companies developing technologies for the pediatric population is significant,”MedTech Color Founder/Board Member Kwame Ulmer stated. “This means more patients will get access to medtech ecosystem accelerants. As more pitch finalists from diverse backgrounds finally get access to funding, this will provide more opportunities for children and young adults in overlooked communities."
Founded in 2017, MedTech Color is a nonprofit organization built on the ideal that diverse leadership in the medical technology ecosystem leads to greater innovation and better outcomes. The organization works to advance the representation of people of color in the medical device industry and to nurture the next generation of founders. MedTech Color aims to build a cohesive community of leaders of color, drive thought leadership and increase the number of underrepresented industry executives.
APDI, a federally funded consortium led by Children’s National Hospital, is one of five nonprofit consortia in the FDA’s Pediatric Device Consortia program that receives funding to provide a platform of services, expertise, and grants to support pediatric innovators in bringing medical devices to the market for children. Along with Children’s National, APDI members include Johns Hopkins University, CIMIT at Mass General Brigham, Tufts Medical Center, Medstar Health Research Institute, OrthoPediatrics Corp. and MedTech Color. Advancements in pediatric medical devices continue to lag significantly behind those of adults, which is the reason APDI is focused on helping more pediatric medical device innovations achieve commercialization.
Children’s National Hospital is based in Washington, D.C., and was established in 1870. Today, it is the No. 5 children’s hospital in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. 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 kids. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children’s National is home to the Children’s National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.