Overview
The Atlantic Pediatric Device Consortium (APDC) is one of seven FDA funded pediatric device consortia awarded in 2013. A collaboration between Georgia Tech, Emory University, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Virginia Commonwealth University, APDC provides a national platform to translate ideas through its product development pathway all the way to commercialization. The mission of APDC is to enhance the lives of children through the development of novel pediatric medical devices, which are both safe and effective. Since 2011 the Consortium has created an environment of creativity, where innovative ideas are reviewed, tested and developed and it reflects the long term commitment of our partner institutions. Success is measured by the development, production and marketing of several novel pediatric medical devices.
The Atlantic Pediatric Device Consortium is dedicated to bringing together the considerable Atlanta expertise that exists in pediatric care, engineering, and business to create an environment that fosters ideas and creativity, generates projects, and produces results - new pediatric devices for years to come. With the addition of the Virginia Commonwealth School of Engineering and Department of Pediatrics in 2013, the consortium serves as a mechanism for collaboration where pediatric devices can be encouraged and assisted along the pathway to commercialization and for approval as orphan products by the FDA.
Goals
1. Connect existing clinical and engineering resources in Atlanta to focus on device development of underserved needs in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric patients (neonate to child).
2. Create a culture for innovation in pediatric healthcare and establish sustainable processes for identification of critical needs, pathways for evaluation of multiple concepts and development of commercializable device solutions.
