(THRIVE) Mount Sinai’s Targeted Healthcare Innovation Fellowship
Launched in October 2020 and supported by ConduITS Institute for Translational Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (CTSA), THRIVE is Mount Sinai’s Targeted Healthcare Innovation Fellowship, a brand new 9-month program for participants from diverse professional backgrounds to develop HealthTech innovations related to COVID-19.
The program is designed to provide an experiential team science platform for participants to take an idea from concept to commercial viable innovation. Following a competitive application process, 16 participants were selected to participate in the program.
THRIVE offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to work in the MedTech innovation space, supported by top researchers leading the field in addressing COVID-19 head-on. Develop team science skills by collaborating with other talented and motivated trainees. The chance to take an idea from concept to through to commercially viable innovation. Application support to major innovation programs inside and outside of Mount Sinai such as the regional I-Corps Node (NYCRIN), ELab NYC, NYC Media Lab, Mid-Atlantic BioAngels, and Mount Sinai Pitch Challenge.
In the fall semester, participants attended weekly BioDesign webinars, hearing from innovators at Mount Sinai who have worked on projects related to COVID-19. A range of video resources is available as part of the program on the ISMMS YouTube page here: THRIVE Precision Recovery – YouTube
Participants also attended MSIP Bootcamp sessions with expert advisors. At the end of the fall semester, 3 self-selected teams had formed around common interests and diverse expertise. Teams selected a final project each to work on, developed an initial pitch document and recruited advisors and mentors.
The three teams are currently working on the following projects:
Vir2U: This app aims to increases the quality of epidemiological data tracking with quality risk assessment for reopening strategies post-COVID 19 by providing trusted data transparency for users and payees
Change Dx: The goals of this project are to develop a monitoring system to detect deviations in ED arrivals, in terms of patient case mix, disease distribution, and severity index quantified by Emergency Severity Index (ESI), using a change point detection algorithm
Lowe-Stocke: Inspired by PPE shortages at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this project aims to develop a system that improves supply chain intelligence for hospitals and medical centers through better equipment tracking at ground level.
Now in the spring semester, participants are focusing creating a budget, developing a prototype, and continued refinement of a pitch and other materials (market, commercial strategy, etc.). Teams each have a small budget allocation to allow them to access tech consultant support or training. In addition, mentors are providing support for participation in Sinai Innovations and external innovation programs and competitions. Commercially relevant inventions are being disclosed to MSIP for further commercialization work. In this way, the THRIVE program hopes to continue to support teams well beyond the end of the yearly program.
We look forward to seeing the resulting innovations!
“ConduITS is supported by grant UL1TR001433 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health.”
