Finalists to deliver live presentations during April 30 competition at University of Maryland, College Park

The National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI) announces 12 finalists that will present at the “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition on April 30, 2019 at the University of Maryland, College Park. The finalists, all innovators in the orthopedic and spine sector, have a chance to win up to $50,000 in grant funding and access to the newly created NCC-PDI “Pediatric Device Innovator Accelerator Program” led by MedTech Innovator.

NCC-PDI, one of five FDA Pediatric Device Consortia grant programs supporting the development and commercialization of pediatric medical devices, 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, Smithwise.

As a finalist, the following companies are receiving pitch coaching through BioHealth Innovation’s Entrepreneurs-In-Residence Program:

• AMB Surgical, LLC, Dayton, Ohio –FLYTE, a device designed to reduce invasive and repetitive surgery in children and teens with orthopedic illnesses such as scoliosis and limb abnormalities
• Auctus Surgical, Inc., San Francisco, Calif. –AuctusSurgical Dynamic Spinal Tethering System, a mechanism used to correct the scoliotic spine in pediatric patients through a tethering procedure
• Adallo Spine, LLC, Charlottesville, Va. –Adalloimplant technology, a novel growing rod/spine deformity system to reducethe frequency and severity of complications during the surgical treatment of pediatric scoliosis
• Mighty Oak Medical, Englewood, Colo. –FIREFLY, a 3D printed, patient-specific pedicle screw navigation guides for spinal surgery
• ActivArmor, Pueblo, Colo. –ActivArmor, custom designed and fit 3D printed braces to provide waterproof, breathable, hygienic treatment of EOS through serial correction of scoliosis
• OCBrace, Orange, Calif. –OCBraceprovides real-time measurements of spinal deformity correction to identify the optimal pressure point location for torso maneuvers to maximize correction and brace efficacy
• Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.–Babystepsplatform to improve initial assessment of clubfoot deformity and predict the magnitude of correction
• Intellirod Spine, Akron, Ohio–iLinkForce Sensor with Mobil App Interface for Pediatric Scoliosis Braces helps determine if the patient’s brace is being worn for target duration and with effective tightness
• ApiFix Ltd,Boston, Mass. –ApiFix’sMinimally Invasive Deformity Correction (MID-C) System, a
• posterior dynamic deformity correction system for surgical treatment to provide permanent spinal curve correction while retaining flexibility
• Nostopharma, Bethesda, Md.–Delivery device platform for localized and controlled release of pharmaceutical agents acting on different aspects of tissue trauma
• nView Medical,Salt Lake City, Utah–Surgical scanner providing instant 3D imaging during surgery faster and with improved accuracy using AI-based image creation
• Materialise, Plymouth, Mich. –SurgiCaseOrthopaedics system, a surgical instrument to assist in pre-operative planning as well as guiding the marking of bone or guiding surgical instruments in non-acute, non-joint replacing osteotomies

“We hope that through this funding opportunity we are able to motivate device companies to develop innovative technologies for pediatric orthopedic surgeons so they are well equipped to correct children’s orthopedic and spine conditions,” says Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., MBA, PMP, vice president and chief innovation officer at Children’s National Health System and principal investigator of NCC-PDI. “This competition aims to increase the profile of companies by exposing them to a panel of industry leaders who may become future investors or strategic partners.”

The finalists were selected from a high-quality pool of applicants. At the live event, the judges will select the winners based on their pitch presentations and responses to judges’ questions. Representing diverse backgrounds in business, healthcare, regulatory and intellectual property, the judges are leading executives and clinicians from BARDA,Baxter, BioHealth Innovation, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Children’s National, DePuy Synthes, Epidarex Capital, Georgia Institute of Technology, Green Sun Medical, HOYA, Illumina Ventures, Johnson & Johnson, MedTech Innovator, Medtronic, Oblon, Smithwise, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children and Ximedica.

The competition also features a patient advocacy panel discussionthat examines why it is important to incorporate the patient’s perspective into the research and development of innovative pediatric products. The panel will feature Laurie Strongin, CEO of Hope for Henry Foundation, a nonprofit that is reinventing how hospitals care for seriously ill children and their families through innovative programs that entertain, reduce stress and empower children to be active participants in their own care.

With its eighth competition in six years, NCC-PDI has a proven track record of connecting the finalists and winners with its network of medtech executives, investors, specialty pediatricians and FDA regulatory consultants who help accelerate the process of bringing innovative medical devices to market. To date, NCC-PDI has assisted over 88 medical device companies from around the world and helped five companies receive FDA or CE Mark regulatory approval. Combined, previous NCC-PDI competition winners have raised $83 million subsequent to their participation, in part because of the networking opportunities the consortium provides them.

To register to attend the competition, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ncc-pdi-competition-registration-58857324843.For more information about the NCC-PDI and to apply for an upcoming pitch competition, visit https://innovate4kids.org.

About Children’s National Health System Children’s National Health System, based in Washington, D.C., has served the nation’s children since 1870. Children’s National is one of the nation’s Top 5 pediatric hospitals and, for a second straight year, is ranked No. 1 in newborn care, as well as ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. It has been designated two times as a Magnet® hospital, a designation given to hospitals that demonstrate the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers inthe D.C. Metropolitan area, including the Maryland suburbs and Northern Virginia. Home to the Children’s Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National is the seventh-highest NIH-funded pediatric institution in the nation. Children’s National 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. For more information, visit ChildrensNational.org, or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park, is the state's flagship university and one of the nation's preeminent public research universities. A global leader in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, the university is home to more than 40,000 students, 10,000 faculty and staff and 352,000 alumni all dedicated to the pursuit of Fearless Ideas. Located just outside Washington, D.C., University of Maryland discovers and shares new knowledge every day through their renowned research enterprise and programs in academics, the arts and athletics. And it is committed to social entrepreneurship as the nation’s first “Do Good” campus. The university’s Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices seeks to catalyze the transformation of basic research into clinical practice and commercial success. The Institute aims to drive innovation by immersing creative and energetic scientists and engineers in a nurturing and rewarding research environment where engineered health systems are conceived of and investigated. The Institute is comprised of staff, resources, facilities, and a network of experts who not only facilitate prototyping and manufacturing expertise, but who also facilitate venture creation, intellectual property creation, and product passage through various clinical, regulatory and reimbursement hurdles.