MATCH-M2D2 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOPS (6/20 – 6/21)

The Multidisciplinary Assessment of Technology Centre for Healthcare (MATCH) is a well-established research collaboration between four leading UK universities (Birmingham, Brunel, Nottingham and Ulster) which is funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and partner subscriptions.

MATCH aims to transform the medical device sector by making available methods and tools that cut the time and cost from concept to continuous improvement in the market. MATCH seeks to support device users, the medical device industry, regulators, reimbursement agencies and healthcare providers such as the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

As part of a widening international outreach program, MATCH is partnering with the Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell to provide two workshops in key areas where the MATCH research has developed tools and methods to support business decisions in the medical device sector.

Participants in the MATCH-M2D2 International workshops will have the opportunity to see how the MATCH Open Business Tool can allow medical device companies to gain a better understanding of their approach to innovation and how an early stage health economic evaluation methodology can assist with critical aspects of business decision making.

Click here for more information including dates, times, program and registration fees!

M2D2 New Venture Competition Winners Announced

April 10, 2013

Little Sparrows, Cellanyx Diagnostics, and BioSignostix today were named the 2013 winners of the Second Annual M2D2 New Venture Competition awards program, which seeks out the most promising new medical device technologies in Massachusetts. The winners were announced at an awards ceremony at the headquarters of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP in Boston’s Innovation District.

The entrepreneurs developing these new products received the highest scores from independent judges who heard their “pitches” at the M2D2 (Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center) Innovation Hub at UMass Lowell in March. At the awards ceremony held today, all 15 companies that reached the final round of the competition offered a poster session and they again pitched their product ideas.

The first-place-winning product idea addresses neonatal jaundice and will receive $10,000 in M2D2 development services and Nutter legal services. The award will help this start-up advance their product development and business concept toward commercialization. Also, Gweepi Medical, which addresses urinary incontinence management, won the People’s Choice Award and will receive $2,000 in M2D2 services and Nutter services.

“The M2D2 New Venture competition showcased 15 great new medical device ideas this year. They are all worthy of support. We especially congratulate the winners – Little Sparrows, Cellanyx, and BioSignostix — and pledge to help them succeed,” said Stephen McCarthy, co-director of M2D2 and UMass Lowell plastics engineering professor. “Working with these entrepreneurs helps M2D2 fulfill its mission: ensuring that Massachusetts is the best place in the world for medical device startups.”

“The M2D2 new venture competition is becoming a signature event for medical device entrepreneurs,” said William C. Geary III, co-managing partner of Nutter, which was the title sponsor of the competition. “Our lawyers coach the entrants on their pitches and expose them to potential funding sources. It’s exciting to see the innovation taking place, and our participation is a way to contribute to a strong medical device industry with a competitive future.”

The annual M2D2 New Venture Competition is open to Massachusetts-based medical device technology startup businesses and inventors. This year, 15 finalists were chosen and presented their concepts to a panel of judges. The prize money includes services from the UMass schools, coordinated through M2D2, including prototyping from the UMass Lowell College of Engineering, business plan and market development from the UMass Lowell Manning School of Business, and services from the Medical School in Worcester. The competition is sponsored by Nutter, which is also a platinum sponsor of M2D2.