Advancing Dialogue for Pediatric Medical Innovations

There is a critical unmet need in the United States and around the world for the development of pediatric medical devices, with support coming only from a scarce number of available grants and some private investments and philanthropy. The testing and marketing of such new devices for children raise unique challenges as well. To open up a dialogue about these challenges, Officials from Children’s National Medical Center announce the First Annual Pediatric Surgery Innovation Symposium will be on June 13, 2013. The Symposium is hosted by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s.

This one day symposium will gather leaders from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Institute of Medicine, industry and policymakers, clinicians, lawyers, scientists, and bioethicists from around the world to discuss these critical issues in pediatric surgical innovation and device development. Included will be the need for new innovative approaches that improve the regulatory pathways such as the 510k process for medical device development.

“In the current shift to a value-based healthcare system, regulatory bodies, innovators, and manufacturers must find the right balance between enabling innovative medical advancements and ensuring that patients receive treatment that is as safe and effective as possible,” says Peter Kim, MD, PhD, Vice President of the Sheikh Zayed Institute. “This symposium will focus discussion on how we might feasibly achieve both of these noble goals at the same time.”

As part of the symposium, the Sheikh Zayed Institute will also award the inaugural Prize for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, including a cash award of $20,000, to a mid-career individual who is significantly advancing pediatric surgery. The prize highlights groundbreaking work in the underserved area of pediatric surgical research and development. The Sheikh Zayed Institute is currently accepting nominations for the Prize for Pediatric Surgical Innovation until May 1, 2013.

Nominate an outstanding individual for the Sheikh Zayed Prize for Pediatric Surgical Innovation

Learn more about the Symposium, including registration information.