SWPDC/BCM/TCH Pediatric Device Seed Funding Program

Deadline: 5 PM CT, Monday, April 18, 2022. Applications are CLOSED. Thank you to all who applied!

The Southwest National Pediatric Device Innovation Consortium (SWPDC) is pleased to offer the annual Pediatric Device Seed Funding Awards sponsored by Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). The purpose of these awards is to foster the innovation of pediatric medical devices specifically designed for children. Four seed funding awards of $25K each are available annually.

Click here to access the application.

Applications are CLOSED. The initial application consists of a short questionnaire, itemized budget, and a CV or Biographical Sketch. Further information may be requested by the SWPDC staff. Please carefully review the eligibility criteria below before applying.

The application deadline is Monday, April 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. CT 

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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.

Target Uses of BCM Seed Funding:

Eligibility Criteria:  

• Principal Investigator (PI) applicants must be BCM faculty members.
• There is no limit on the number of times an applicant can receive an award.

All awarded funds (type 1 College funds) must be spent (not encumbered) in the one year period between July 1 of the current year and June 30 of the following year. No-cost extensions will NOT be granted. Any unused funds will be returned to BCM.

Use of Funds:  

• Funds may be used for expenses and activities associated with development of a pediatric device including:
  • Personnel including for the PI (salary and applicable fringe benefits to allow for research time) or for post-docs and graduate students and other professional and technical staff.
  • Consultant expenses associated with device development (regulatory, intellectual property, etc.) including in the start-up company associated with the device
  • Engineering design / prototyping / manufacturing expenses
  • Study equipment
  • Study supplies
  • Clinical trial expenses
• Funds may NOT be used towards the following:
  • Office equipment and furniture
  • Tuition
  • Dues and membership fees
  • Maintenance/service contracts
  • Construction, alteration, maintenance or rental of buildings or building space
  • Recruiting/relocation expenses
  • Entertainment/social expenses
  • Pre-award cost
  • Indirect Costs

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Instructions for Preparing Your Application:

Please read and follow the instructions carefully.

Required Application Items: Online application, including a budget justification (Please see below for the pdf version of the questions) – https://airtable.com/shrJq1VOEA0FEkYzD

Submission and Review Process

• Online applications are due by 5:00 PM CT on Monday, April 18, 2022.
• Applications will be reviewed by a SWPDC review committee. Notification of application outcome will be sent by early June 2022. Funding will be available after July 1, 2022.

Evaluation Criteria

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

Progress Report

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

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FAQs

1. How often is the program offered? 

The program is offered once a year. The deadline is in the spring. 

2. Are there any citizenship or residency requirements? 

There are no citizenship requirements for this program. 

3. Do I need to submit biosketches for my collaborators? 

No, only the principal investigator’s biosketch or CV should be included in the application.

4. Can my proposal be submitted after the deadline? 

No. Proposals can be submitted only until the specified time on the deadline day. 

5. How do I know whether my application was received? 

We will confirm receipt of all proposals via email. If you do not receive a confirmation email or are concerned about the status of your proposal, please email SouthwestPDC@bcm.edu

6. Who reviews the applications?

Applications are reviewed by a SWPDC review committee.

7. What is the timeline for the review process? When will awards start? 

Reviews will be done in late April / May. Our goal is to make awards in July at the start of the new BCM fiscal year. Funding decisions are communicated as soon as they are finalized.

8. By when must awarded funds be spent?

Funds are type 1 and must be spent (not encumbered) by June 30 of the fiscal year in which they are awarded. 

9. Is this opportunity the same as the Capstone Project?

No, the BCM Faculty Seed grant is appropriate for projects that already have prototypes and require further development.

The Capstone Project calls for project ideas still in the concept stage with an identified unmet need with no prototype yet.

See the below flowchart for further clarification and details. Please email SouthwestPDC@bcm.edu with any questions or if you are interested in the capstone project program.

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The Southwest 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.

Questions can be directed to Chester Koh, MD or Kara Toman, MPH, at SouthwestPDC@BCM.edu.