Children’s National Medical Centre in U.S. selects finalist for Sheikh Zayed Prize

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Eight finalists have been selected from a competitive field of 56 entries received from across the U.S. and internationally for the Sheikh Zayed Prize for Paediatric Device Innovation. The eight finalists, all representing outstanding innovation in paediatric medical devices, have been selected to present their proposals for a chance to compete for one of two US$50,000 top awards at the Sheikh Zayed Institute Second Annual Paediatric Surgical Innovation Symposium hosted by the Children’s National Medical Centre. Each finalist will have five minutes to present their proposal to the judging panel, which includes Charles Berul, MD, Chief of Cardiology at Children’s National, and three members from venture capital, innovation incubator and accelerator organisations. The format includes a four-minute question-and-answer period following the oral presentation. "This competition is unique from other venture capital competitions because we are seeking out paediatric medical devices that address unmet needs," said Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., MBA, Executive Director of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National. "The desire of our institute is to see a shift in paediatric device development so that promising products for children can make their way to market more rapidly." The finalists represent a broad range of new diagnostic and treatment devices designed specifically for children. For example, the paediatric vision scanner, developed by REBIScan, could eradicate amblyopia ("lazy eye") one of the leading causes of preventable vision loss in children. Annually, over one million children worldwide suffer permanent vision loss because of lack of detection. Amblyopia is fully treatable if caught early, but it is irreversible if not corrected by the age of seven. An important need is devices scaled specifically for children and designed appropriately for their activity levels and growth. Another of the finalists is a prosthetic socket for paediatric patients that is adjustable and comfortable. Developed by LIM Innovations, this device would allow young children with an amputation to engage in an active lifestyle. The competition is a part of the Sheikh Zayed Institute Second Annual Paediatric Surgical Innovation Symposium, "Lessons from Drugs to Devices: A Paediatric Perspective," which takes place at The Knight Conference Centre at The Newseum in Washington, DC. The one-day forum will bring together key leaders from the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, medical device industry, law firms, paediatric societies and advocacy groups, along with scientists, engineers, clinicians and policy makers to examine and discuss the challenges surrounding paediatric surgical innovation and the need for greater innovation. Children’s National Medical Centre, based in Washington, D.C., has been serving the nation’s children since 1870. Children’s National’s hospital is consistently ranked among the top paediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Home to the Children’s Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Paediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National is one of the nation’s top NIH-funded paediatric institutions. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395271468539.html