BOSTON, Jan. 18, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Innovation and Digital Health Accelerator (IDHA) at Boston Children's Hospital and the Boston Pediatric Device Consortium (BPDC) today announced winners of the Boston Pediatric Device Strategic Partner Challenge, which launched in September 2017 and is designed to advance the development of novel pediatric medical device innovations.

Each winner has been awarded a combination of up to $50,000 in funding per grant award and/or mentorship opportunities with leading medical device strategic partners. The IDHA and BPDC challenge strategic partners include Boston Scientific, Boston Children's Simulator Program (SIMPeds), CryoLife, Edwards Lifesciences, Health Advances, Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Medtronic, Smithwise and Ximedica. Unique to this pediatric medical device challenge, they will provide in-kind support in such areas as product manufacturing and/or design, simulation testing, business plan development and partnering opportunities to accelerate the projects' path to commercialization.

The Challenge winners are:

• Nivedita Dhar, MD, Wayne State University and University of Basel (Detroit, MI) for a device that prevents urethra erosion and urinary incontinence;
• Andrea Martin, PhD, and Doug Bernstein, Peca Labs®, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA) for a cardiovascular conduit that can be expanded to keep pace with the growth of a child, thereby reducing the need for subsequent open heart surgeries;
• Andrew Cothrel, Xact Medical (Springboro, OH) for a robotic, one-handed central venous access tool that creates a 3D image of the vasculature and automatically delivers an access needle;
• David Zapol, Third Pole Therapeutics and Massachusetts General Hospital (San Francisco, CA and Boston, MA) for a nitric oxide generator to help treat severe persistent pulmonary hypertension; and
• David Hoganson, MD, Boston Children's Hospital (Boston, MA) for a cardiac device that allows surgeons to quantifiably measure leaflet coaptation height and success of heart valve repairs.

"We have a major unmet need for pediatric medical devices that are specifically designed to address the demands of a growing, active child," said Pedro del Nido, MD, leader of the BPDC and Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Boston Children's Hospital. "The Boston Pediatric Device Strategic Partner Challenge winners represent innovations that are addressing these unmet medical needs. Together with our partners, we are pleased to support these teams as they work toward accelerating their technologies from concept to market." 

The BPDC and strategic partners reviewed a total of 60 applications from the U.S. and other countries, spanning diverse clinical areas from Cardiovascular and Critical Care/Monitoring to Pulmonology and Urology, and all stages of development. Selected companies were invited to Boston in early December to pitch their device to a panel of clinical, business and technology experts and strategic partner representatives.

The Challenge was funded by the FDA Office of Orphan Products Development through a grant to the Boston Pediatric Device Consortium. Per FDA guidelines, winning organizations cannot receive more than $50,000. More information, including the application and detailed review criteria for the Challenge, can be found at www.bostonpdc.org.

About the Challenge Co-Hosts

The Boston Pediatric Device Consortium (BPDC) provides expertise and resources to device developers and manufacturers at each of the steps necessary for novel pediatric device development, in order to accelerate the pace of innovation. The BPDC is a collaborative of experts in engineering, clinical sciences, and clinical trials design and performance; device development specialists; and industry partners whose primary goal is to develop and evaluate novel therapies for children. Leading the BPDC is Pedro del Nido, MD, Chief of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Boston Children's Hospital, William E. Ladd Professor of Child Surgery at Harvard Medical School, and medical device entrepreneur.

The Innovation and Digital Health Accelerator at Boston Children's Hospital is responsible for building and launching transformative digital and device technologies and supports clinical and research leaders as they pursue breakthrough pediatric technology, striving to bring these innovations to patients and clinicians everywhere. Their cross-functional team brings expertise in software development, data analytics, clinical care and lean startup practices, and combines their data, clinical expertise, and health care technology development experience with leading worldwide industry partners – including start-ups – to accelerate innovations and technologies from concept to global deployment. For more, visit childrenshospital.org/accelerator.

About Boston Children's Hospital

Boston Children's Hospital, the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center. Its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. Today, more than 3,000 scientists, including nine members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine and 11 Howard Hughes Medical Investigators comprise Boston Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children's is now a 415-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. For more, visit our Vector and Thriving blogs and follow us on social media @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook and YouTube.

CONTACT:
Keri Stedman
617-919-3110
Keri.Stedman@childrens.harvard.edu

SOURCE Boston Children's Hospital

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