New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC) Provides Resources to Accelerate Development of Apnea Monitoring Medical Devices for Children
Lebanon, NH (PRWEB) October 01, 2015 -- The New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC), National Sleep Foundation, and Graham's Foundation are pleased to announce two award recipients for the 2nd Annual NEPDC Target Challenge, which sought out novel medical devices that can improve diagnosis and detection of apnea for children. “This Target Challenge allows NEPDC to support device development from concept to commercialization. By helping with the many steps in between, NEPDC hopes to maximize the chance for good ideas to end up actually helping children – who are our most important clients.” said Ann-Christine Duhaime, MD, co-Director of NEPDC.
The Target Challenge provided $60,000 in funding and will allocate 200 hours of in-kind service from NEPDC member organizations to each awardee. “The National Sleep Foundation applauds the Target Challenge awardees and NEPDC for working to bring pediatric apnea monitoring devices to market.” says David M. Cloud, CEO of the National Sleep Foundation.
In-kind services offered to each awardee cover many aspects of commercialization, including:
• Engineering design and transfer to manufacturing
• Development of intellectual property and regulatory strategy
• Pre-clinical and clinical trial design and execution
• Strategic market planning and business development
• Identifying co-funding opportunities
Awarables (Potomac, MD) was awarded $40,000 and 200 hours of in-kind services to commercialize a Sleep Management Platform that integrates a hardware sensor with software analytics for monitoring sleep disorders. “We look forward to collaborating with NEPDC and fast-forwarding the development of our sleep monitoring and management platform for improving the lives of millions of children suffering from sleep disorders.” Madhvi Upender, Founder, CEO, Awarables.
Circadiance (Export, PA) was awarded $20,000 and 200 hours of in-kind services to commercialize the next generation of their SmartMonitor technology. This new incarnation of SmartMonitor will leverage the success of its predecessor by measuring pulse oximetry, heart rate, and respiratory effort to determine the presence of apnea in patients less than 12 month of age. “We are honored to have received this grant from NEPDC, which will allow us to accelerate the commercialization of the next generation of pediatric apnea monitors. The importance of this technology in fragile, at-risk infants cannot be understated, as home apnea monitoring improves the quality of life of the family of the newborn, while reducing the overall cost of care. We are excited to continue our relationship with NEPDC.” said Circadiance CEO David Groll.
Nick Hall, founder and president of the Graham’s Foundation, stated "We are thrilled for the awardees and the potential impact their devices will have for our preemie population. We wish them all the best and look forward to finding ways to contribute the parent voice in their development."
In addition to the Target Challenge program, NEPDC also offers commercialization resources for all pediatric medical devices through an open solicitation program. Applications from across the United States are reviewed competitively on a quarterly schedule. “These Target Challenge awards reflect on going and significant interest in NEPDC and the services as part of the FDA Pediatric Device Consortium program” said Rick Greenwald, PhD, co-Director of NEPDC. “We encourage new submissions by October 19, 2015 for the next round of grant awards”, Greenwald offered. “We also would value submission via email of specific ideas for the next Target Challenge for early 2016”.
About New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC)
NEPDC is a non-profit consortium that provides infrastructure, expert consultation to innovators, and execution of technology translation and commercialization of pediatric technologies. NEPDC is funded by the FDA’s Office of Orphan Product Development as part of the Pediatric Device Consortium network to accelerate commercialization of safe and effective technologies for pediatric populations. NEPDC fosters commercialization by connecting innovators with an extensive network of clinicians, researchers, technologists, and business development specialists located at institutions throughout New England. NEPDC member institutions include: Mass General Hospital for Children, Simbex, CIMIT, Institute for Pediatric Innovation, and The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. For further information, visit http://www.NEPDC.org.
About National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation is dedicated to improving health and well-being through sleep education and advocacy. It is well known for its annual Sleep in America® poll. The Foundation is a charitable, educational and scientific not-for-profit organization located in Washington, DC. Its membership includes researchers and clinicians focused on sleep medicine, health professionals, patients, families affected by drowsy driving and more than 900 healthcare facilities. For more information, please visit http://www.sleepfoundation.org.
National Sleep Foundation Contact
Jennifer Williams
(202) 631-1205
[email protected]
About Graham's Foundation
Graham’s Foundation empowers parents of premature babies through support, advocacy and research to improve outcomes for their preemies and themselves. In addition to our NICU, transition home, and remembrance care package programs, we have 20 trained parent mentors available 24/7 via email, phone, and text and the market-leading app, MyPreemie. We connect organizations, medical professionals, and brands with thousands of preemie parent voices to impact positive change for preemies and their families. And we represent the needs of preemie parents at conferences around the world attended by neonatologists, neonatal nurses, industry, academics and other professionals who work closely with preemies and their families. Visit http://GrahamsFoundation.org to learn more.
Graham’s Foundation Contact
Nick Hall
888-466-2948 ext. 701
[email protected]
Erica Faughnan, New England Pediatric Device Consortium (NEPDC), http://www.NEPDC.org, +1 603-678-8260, [email protected]
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