NCC-PDI Pediatric Device Competition Now Accepting Proposals From Medical Device Innovators

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI) is now accepting proposals for medical innovations that address a significant, yet unmet pediatric need. Five prizes of $50,000 each will be awarded to the winning presentations at the consortium's third annual competition in February 2016.

The FDA funded consortium, 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, invites innovators of all kinds including researchers, entrepreneurs, clinicians, and patient families to bring forward their promising pediatric medical devices. For competition details, click here.

"Now in our consortium's third year, we've seen some impactful innovations advance to the clinical stage as a result of this competition and we're hopeful that trend will continue," said Kolaleh Eskandanian, PhD, MBA, PMP, executive director of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children's National.

Each finalist will have five minutes to pitch their device concept to a multi-disciplinary panel of judges followed by a five-minute question-and-answer session.

"Our annual competition is just one example of the countless ways in which NCC-PDI supports today's innovators in their pursuit to create solutions to pressing human health challenges," said William E. Bentley, PhD, Robert E. Fischell Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland. "Since its launch, NCC-PDI has helped advance medical device development for a variety of causes impacting pediatric populations."

Last year's pitch competition winners, chosen from a field of 12 finalists, were Nanofiber Solutions of Columbus, Ohio; University of Maryland Baltimore County of Baltimore, Md.; PhotoniCare of Champaign, Ill.; LIM Innovations of San Francisco, Calif.; and University of Minnesota of Minneapolis, Minn.

For more information about the NCC-PDI, visit www.innovate4kids.org.

About Children's National Health System

Children's National Health System, based in Washington, DC, has been serving the nation's children since 1870. Children's National is Magnet® designated, and was ranked among the top 10 pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report 2015-16. Home to the Children's Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children's National is one of the nation's top NIH-funded pediatric institutions. With a community-based pediatric network, seven regional outpatient centers, an ambulatory surgery center, two emergency rooms, an acute care hospital, and collaborations throughout the region, Children's National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as an advocate for all children. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE Children's National Health System