The University of Pittsburgh announced it awarded $550,000 across eight novel health care proposals as part of its annual Pitt Innovation Challenge, or PInCh.
All eight teams pitched their proposals to a panel of judges, with the top three winners each receiving a $100,000 prize. Additionally, all finalists received some form of funding as well as a bonus funding award for addressing some form of a health disparity.
The top three projects that placed the highest included:
- NextGenET - a project that is looking to reinvent the mechanically ventilated tube inserted into airways so that it can better prevent leaks, which can lead to the inhalation of bacteria that can then cause ventilator-associated pneumonia
- Parenting While Black - a platform for Black parents to promote their children's mental health, academic achievement and positive racial socialization
- Healthy Teeth Healthy Me Family Activity Box - a project that aims to prevent tooth decay in vulnerable children via a family-oriented subscription box filled with activities and toys to create health teeth habits
"This year’s participants put forth a wide range of bold solutions to daunting problems" Steven E. Reis, director of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute and associate senior vice chancellor for Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Pittsburgh, said in a statement. "The winning ideas ranged from a novel program to assist Black parenting to creating a new endotracheal tube that will prevent pneumonia in patients on ventilators to improving dental health among children – all are creative approaches that will improve the health and wellbeing of millions of individuals.”
PInCh has now occurred every year for the past eight years. A list of all the winners for this year's competition can be found here.
