SWPDC & AAP SOATT Fall 2023

Applications are closed! Thank you to all who applied.

Deadline: Friday, October 06th, 2023, 5:00 PM Central

The Southwest-Midwest National Pediatric Device Innovation Consortium (SWPDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Advances in Therapeutics and Technology (AAP SOATT) are pleased to offer another funding opportunity this Fall 2023 as the SWPDC and AAP SOATT Pediatric Device Prizes.

SWPDC is a multi-institutional consortium that is supported by an FDA P50 grant, anchored by Texas Children’s Hospital (TCH) and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), and is dedicated to improving children’s health by supporting pediatric device innovators to create novel pediatric medical devices with local, regional, and national institutional and innovation partners. 

A great need currently exists for medical devices designed specifically for children, which is most likely a result of economic, clinical, and regulatory challenges, as well as a lack of established mechanisms for joining pediatric device ideas with qualified individuals/programs and industry partners to create innovative and needed pediatric devices.

The purpose of these prizes is to foster the innovation of devices specifically designed for children.

Up to TWO $25,000 prizes will be available for this funding opportunity.

Click here to access the application!

Click here to download the Budget Template

Applications are CLOSED. The initial application consists of a short questionnaire, an itemized budget, and an optional 1 – 2 minute video pitch. We strongly encourage applicants to create a short video including pictures or video of the technology to add context to their project. Further information may be requested by the SWPDC team.

The application deadline is Friday, October 06th, 2023, 5:00 PM Central 


Eligibility Criteria:

  • Open to pediatric device innovators
  • Technology must be a Medical Device as defined by the FDA
  • Technology must benefit the pediatric patient population as defined by the FDA (Age 21 years or younger)

Use of Funds:  

  • Funds may be used for expenses and activities associated with development of a pediatric device including:
    • Personnel
    • Consultant expenses associated with device development (regulatory, intellectual property, etc.)
    • Engineering design / prototyping / manufacturing expenses
    • Study equipment
    • Study supplies
    • Clinical trial expenses

Submission and Review Process

  • Online applications are due by 5:00 PM CT on Friday, October 6, 2023
  • Applications will be reviewed by the SWPDC review committee. Notification of application outcome will be sent in Late-October 2023.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following categories: Significance, Innovation, Feasibility

Progress Report

Progress updates are required on a six-month basis. The progress report should detail progress made on the project.


The Southwest-Midwest National Pediatric Device Innovation Consortium (SWPDC) is one of five U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) P50 grant-supported pediatric device consortia. SWPDC is a “free no-strings-attached” virtual accelerator that supports pediatric device innovators nationwide with product, technology and business acceleration services throughout the pediatric device life cycle from idea to commercial/clinical launch.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is a national organization of thousands of pediatricians whose goal is to strive for peak health for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. The Section on Advances in Therapeutics and Technology (SOATT) is a component of AAP that serves to educate physicians, stimulate research and development, and consult on therapeutics and technology-related matters.

To become a member of AAP Section on Advances in Therapeutics and Technology, please apply at the following link: https://services.aap.org/en/community/aap-sections/advances-in-therapeutics-and-technology/soatt-membership-criteria/

Questions can be directed to Chester Koh, MD or Brandon Hunter, MD, at SouthwestPDC@BCM.edu

Past Winners:

Fall 2022 Winners: Hill Johnson – Luminoah; Xina Quan – PyrAmes; Courtney Hill, Glimpse Diagnostics

Fall 2021 Winner: Jonathan Merrell – Compact Medical

Spring 2021 Winners: Dr. Jason Van Batavia (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia) – IndepENEMA, Dr. Ronald Day (University of Utah) – Devices for Blow by Oxygen