CTIP Announces Health Equity FlexGrants, a Limited Grant Opportunity to Support Pediatric Medical Device Innovators Addressing Health Inequities Using their Technology

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - February 12, 2021 - To continue to leverage our platform to shine a light on health inequity within pediatrics medtech, The West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP) is announcing 2021 FlexGrants, a limited grant opportunity. Selected pediatric medical device innovators will be awarded grants of up to $15,000 to support activities that apply or adapt their existing medical device to help address health inequities in children. Medical devices with adult indications that are expanding or wish to expand their clinical indication to pediatrics are welcome to apply. The CDC defines Health Equity as a person’s “opportunity to attain his or her full health potential, and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of social position or other socially determined circumstances."

The proposed solution can focus on any factor that impacts health equity, including but not limited to:

1. Social determinants of health, including race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, built environment, education, employment status, etc.
2. Disease states that disproportionately impact underserved communities
3. Business models that ensure equitable access to and distribution of the technology

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There are several pediatric MedTech companies within the CTIP portfolio that address these factors. Leveraging CTIP’s funding, ecosystem and clinical expertise can enable these devices to progress from concept to commercialization. CTIP Director, Juan Espinoza, MD emphasized “I see the very real impact of health inequities on my patients every day. Technology has an important role to play in addressing these barriers and improving the health outcomes of underserved communities. There are so many ways that medical device innovators can begin to tackle health inequities, whether it's through their disease focus, their business model, or the care they enable; I’m really looking forward to seeing this round of proposals.”

“Through CTIP, I invest capital and resources to foster diversity on both sides: in the solutions -- the healthcare technologies themselves -- and in the founding teams -- the talent. We have a unique position to reduce health disparities,” said Kathryne Cooper, MBA, CTIP Co-Director.

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Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Clear definition of the health inequity(ies) your solution proposes to address
• How your solution will address pediatric health inequity(ies)
• Scientific, technical, engineering merit
• Clinical merit
• Feasibility of achieving stated goals with requested funding
• Sustainability of both the proposed solution and the team

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All companies must meet CTIP's minimum criteria to receive support:

1. Medical device that has a pediatric application as defined by the FDA, 0 to 21 years of age
2. Medical device regulated by the FDA
3. Feasible for CTIP to support
4. US-based company

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CTIP is accepting grant submissions until 11:59 pm PST on Friday, March 12th, 2021.  Visit Flex Grant on www.westcoastctip.org to apply.

For more updates from CTIP about pediatric MedTech follow us @westcoastctip on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram, Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics on LinkedIn, and the web at www.westcoastctip.org

The West Coast Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP) is an FDA-funded pediatric MedTech accelerator centered at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Our goal is to facilitate the development, production, and distribution of pediatric medical devices by identifying companies working in the space and providing advice, networking, and direct and indirect financial support on the road to commercialization.

Contact us at info@westcoastctip.org