Pregnancy and childbirth, while natural processes, carry significant health risks for women globally. The stark reality is that complications during these critical times lead to the tragic loss of over 800 women and 7,000 newborns every single day. A key factor in combating this crisis lies in the ability to accurately and swiftly diagnose potential issues, especially in resource-limited areas where access to advanced medical facilities is scarce. Recognizing this urgent need, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) launched the NIH Technology Accelerator Challenge (NTAC) for Maternal Health, a pivotal initiative designed to spur innovation in diagnostic technologies and ultimately improve Maternal Care Is Medical Diagnosis on a global scale.
This challenge, managed by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and with support from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the NIH Office of Research on Women’s Health, awarded a total of $1 million in prizes. The focus was clear: to identify and support the development of point-of-care diagnostic tools capable of detecting and differentiating between common pregnancy-related conditions. These technologies are vital for healthcare workers to effectively integrate into their practice and provide timely and life-saving interventions.
Dr. Bruce J. Tromberg, Ph.D., NIBIB Director, emphasized the competition’s focus: “This competition prioritized technologies that could have life-saving impact on women, families, and communities, and provide health care workers with technologies they can readily integrate into practice with their patients.” He lauded the innovative spirit of the participating teams and their commitment to translating these innovations into practical solutions for global health challenges.
The NTAC for Maternal Health specifically targeted critical maternal health conditions including infections, hypertensive diseases, hemorrhage, and placental issues. Alarmingly, hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, and bacterial infections are responsible for over half of all maternal deaths worldwide, with a disproportionate 94% of these fatalities occurring in low- and lower-middle-income countries. The challenge attracted over 40 entries, ultimately recognizing nine exceptional innovations – five cash prize winners and four honorable mentions – showcasing the breadth of ingenuity focused on solving these pressing issues.
The winning technologies represent a significant leap forward in maternal health diagnostics, each offering unique solutions tailored to address the challenges of resource-constrained settings:
Revolutionizing Postpartum Care with Mobile Health Tools
Taking first place and a $500,000 prize, Dr. Bethany Hedt-Gauthier from Harvard University developed mHealth tools designed for community health workers. These tools empower home-based diagnosis of surgical site infections and anemia following cesarean deliveries. This stand-alone, integrated mobile platform enables proactive postpartum recovery monitoring directly in women’s homes. Specifically designed for rural Rwanda, this technology holds immense potential for adaptation and implementation in similar low-infrastructure and resource settings globally, ensuring timely intervention and improving maternal outcomes.
The Maternal Obstetrics Monitoring Sock (MOMS): A Wearable Revolution
The University of California, Irvine, secured second place and a $300,000 prize with their innovative Maternal Obstetrics Monitoring Sock (MOMS). This low-cost, portable, point-of-care system is designed to monitor pregnant women for critical conditions like preeclampsia, anemia, and hemorrhage. The MOMS sock continuously tracks vital signs including blood pressure and heart rate, and monitors blood flow. Its ease of use and portability make it ideal for deployment during and after delivery in low-resource settings, providing continuous monitoring where it’s needed most.
Wearable Sensors and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy: Cutting-Edge Diagnostic Solutions
Two third-place prizes of $75,000 each were awarded, highlighting the diversity of innovative approaches. Softsonics, LLC, San Diego, developed a wearable ultrasound/electrochemical sensor for comprehensive maternal health surveillance. This conformal, stretchable, and integrated sensor offers dynamic monitoring of pregnancy complications such as sepsis, preeclampsia, and placental dysfunction. Crucially, it monitors blood pressure, heart rate, and lactate levels and facilitates Doppler ultrasound imaging, all without requiring a trained operator, making it accessible in low-resource environments.
Raydiant Oximetry, Inc., San Francisco, also secured a third-place tie with their LUMERAH™ near-infrared spectroscopy platform. This non-invasive technology is designed to diagnose maternal hemorrhage and fetal distress during pregnancy. The LUMERAH™ system utilizes near-infrared spectroscopy for non-invasive pulse oximetry, specifically targeting the diagnosis of fetal hypoxic distress during labor and delivery and maternal hemorrhage in the postpartum period. These conditions pose significant risks to mothers in both developed and developing nations, making this technology universally relevant.
Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Non-Invasive Monitoring: Expanding Access to Maternal Care
Stanford University received a semi-finalist prize of $50,000 for their point-of-care diagnostics tool for preeclampsia and anemia in pregnancy. This fully integrated molecular diagnostic system utilizes a miniaturized, disposable semiconductor chip for simple, low-cost, and early detection of these conditions at the point-of-care. This technology promises to identify high-risk pregnancies, enabling close monitoring and early intervention in diverse settings, from high-income to low- and middle-income countries.
Four entries received honorable mentions, further showcasing the breadth of innovation in this field: VoluMetrix, LLC, for their Non-invasive Venous Waveform Analysis (NIVA) for maternal health; MOMM Diagnostics for their Rapid Preeclampsia Diagnostic Test (RaPiD); Purdue University for their Modifying maternal recumbent position to prevent preeclampsia and placental disease with the automated supine pressor test (Auto-SPT); and Washington University in St. Louis for their Maternal aRMOR wearable device for preventing global maternal mortality and morbidity.
These technologies, recognized by the NIH NTAC for Maternal Health, represent a crucial step forward in improving maternal care globally. By focusing on accessible, point-of-care diagnostics, these innovations promise to empower healthcare providers, especially in resource-limited settings, to deliver timely and effective medical diagnosis and interventions. This challenge underscores the critical role of technological innovation in ensuring healthier pregnancies and safer childbirth for women worldwide, ultimately moving closer to a future where maternal mortality is significantly reduced.
Learn more about the organizations driving this vital change:
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB): NIBIB website
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): https://www.nichd.nih.gov
- Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH): www.nih.gov/women
- National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH website
