Children’s National Innovation Day aims to advance pioneering pediatric life science projects

Pioneering life science projects focused on improving pediatric care will be on display at the Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus when the hospital hosts its 2022 Innovation Day on Friday, August 26. Hosted by Children’s National Innovation Ventures, the program’s goal is to showcase life sciences and healthcare projects that are mature enough to look for a co-developer, strategic partner, investor or licensing vehicle.

“For us, a successful Innovation Day means we are able to match these entrepreneurs with the strategic partner they need at this stage of their device development journey,” says Kolaleh Eskandanian, Ph.D., M.B.A., P.M.P., vice president and chief innovation officer at Children’s National Hospital and executive director of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation.

“Data continues to show that the national Capital Region (NCR) remains one of the most robust life sciences and technology hubs in the country with no shortage of visionary leaders. There is no better place to conduct this important work as we seek more ways to advance pediatric medical technologies to improve health outcomes.”

A total of 17 projects will be showcased at the event, with each having up to 10-minute window to make their presentation. All attendees will be provided a survey, enabling valuable feedback for presenters as they look to take their next strategic step on the pathway to further development and commercialization.

In addition to presenting projects, the 2022 Innovation Day will also feature startup companies whose mission is aligned with Children’s National’s quest to bring novel pediatric medical products to patients and families. Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with the hospital’s researchers, academic entrepreneurs and prominent stakeholders in the life science and healthcare innovation ecosystem in the region. Interested investors and strategics can also request one-on-one meetings with startups and research teams.

Eskandanian, who also serves as the executive director of the FDA-funded National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI), notes that accelerating this pathway to commercialization for pediatric products will bring more viable technologies to market, an important step in addressing the ongoing development disparity in innovations developed for children versus adults.

“For too long, children have been left behind in the development and commercialization of medical products and we remain committed to altering the trend,” Eskandanian says. “Children’s National’s Innovation Ventures team is working closely with the presenting innovators to provide any and all support that we can to get these products to the next stage.”

Registration for Children’s National’s 2022 Innovation Day is currently open. Those interested in attending the day-long showcase can register at https://conta.cc/3CrAfTl.

Supporting the progress of pediatric innovators is a key focus of the new Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus, a one-of-its-kind ecosystem that drives discoveries that save and improve the lives of children. On a nearly 12-acre portion of the former, historic Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Northwest Washington, D.C., Children’s National has combined its strengths with those of public and private partners, including industry, universities, federal agencies, start-up companies and academic medical centers. The campus provides a rich environment of public and private partners which, like the NCC-PDI network, helps to bolster pediatric innovation and commercialization.