SWPDC 2020 Impact Grants for COVID-19 and other critical needs areas

Deadline: 11:59 PM August 5, 2020

Applications are now closed. Thank you to all who have applied.

Children are increasingly recognized as a vulnerable population for COVID-19, and across the country, entrepreneurs are pivoting to address the healthcare challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic for both adults and children.  As one of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)-supported Pediatric Device Consortia, the Southwest national Pediatric Device innovation Consortium (SWPDC) is pleased to announce a grant opportunity to support pediatric medical device innovators who are able to use their technology to aid in the current COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on children. We are seeking innovative device solutions to address critical emerging public health needs for pediatric patients.

Introducing the SWPDC 2020 Impact Grants for COVID-19 and other critical needs areas:

In this rapid cycle opportunity, up to $100,000 in total will be awarded to pediatric device companies as seed funding or in-kind services to support activities that improve the healthcare of the pediatric community during this pandemic. This opportunity is nonexclusive to COVID-19 and can also apply to other critical needs areas such as addressing the opioid epidemic. Medical devices with adult indications that are expanding their focus to the pediatric population are also welcome to apply.

Examples related to COVID-19: 

• Devices that address an underlying medical condition that places pediatric patients at increased risk for developing complications related to COVID-19
• PPE designed specifically to fit pediatric patients (to protect pediatric oncology and immune deficiency patients, to reduce community transmission)
• Advances in life saving ICU equipment designed specifically for pediatric patients
• Devices that permit pediatric patients to continue life-saving therapies at home (e.g. therapy for pediatric oncology patients)
• Devices that facilitate effective remote pediatric care (e.g. devices that relay critical information back to physicians caring for pediatric patients with chronic diseases)
• Devices that address pediatric device shortages (specifically related to COVID-19)

Click here to access the application: https://airtable.com/shrfHhKsvB8lnbinx

We are now accepting applications.  The deadline for submission is August 5, 2020, 11:59 CDT. The initial application consists of a short questionnaire, itemized budget (up to $25,000 max), and an optional 1 – 2 minute video pitch. We strongly encourage applicants to create a short video to add context to their project. Further information may be requested by the SWPDC staff.

The applications will be reviewed by a SWPDC review committee, and funding amounts are subject to the total number of selected applications and their budget requests.  Funding will be made available as of September 1, 2020.

For more information, please contact Dr. Chester Koh and Kara Toman at SouthwestPDC@bcm.edu.