The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the winners of its $8 million RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge, selecting eight teams from more than 80 submissions to advance postpartum maternal health diagnostics. The competition focused on developing technologies for regions with limited maternity care access, targeting the critical period when most maternal deaths occur—up to one year after delivery or pregnancy end.
“In the United States, most pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Equitable access to diagnostics can lead to timely interventions and potentially life-saving treatments,” said Diana W. Bianchi, M.D., director of NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). “Through this challenge, NIH encouraged innovative, easy-to-use technologies that monitor common postpartum health problems, including hemorrhage, anemia, urinary infections and depression.”
Six teams were awarded grand prizes of $525,000 each:
Cardiex developed CONNEQT Pulse and CONNEQT Band for continuous cardiovascular monitoring. The devices deliver central and brachial blood pressure readings along with arterial health insights, integrating with healthcare providers through cloud-based connectivity.
Caretaker Medical created Vitalstream, an FDA-cleared wireless wrist monitor measuring heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, cardiac output/stroke volume, left ventricular ejection time, and heart rate variability, enabling remote patient monitoring.
HemoSonics developed the Quantra System, an FDA-cleared, point-of-care diagnostic device for managing acute bleeding, with ongoing multi-center studies to expand its clearance to obstetric patients.
Global Access Diagnostics created a rapid home test for urinary tract infections, designed to look and feel like a home pregnancy test, potentially enabling earlier treatment without in-person appointments.
Sanguina developed AnemoCheck Mobile, a smartphone app estimating hemoglobin levels through nail bed images, with plans to customize it using pregnancy and postpartum data.
Sibel Health created the FDA-cleared ANNE One system, featuring chest and index finger sensors for continuous or point-of-care vital sign monitoring.
Two teams received runner-up prizes of $300,000 each:
MyLÚA Health developed an AI-powered mobile platform providing mental and social health risk management, including virtual peer support groups, health education, and telemedicine access.
PyrAmes created Bosimi, a noninvasive wearable device monitoring blood pressure in real time, designed to enable better control and timely treatment for postpartum women.
Throughout the two-year competition, participants received support through the RADx Tech program, including expert mentoring, regulatory and manufacturing consultations, and independent clinical evaluation. This support aims to help teams bring their products to market.
The initiative is part of NIH’s broader IMPROVE Initiative (Implementing a Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone), which focuses on reducing preventable maternal deaths and improving women’s health before, during, and after delivery. The program particularly emphasizes addressing health disparities in populations disproportionately affected by severe pregnancy complications and maternal death, including African American/Black women, American Indians/Alaska Natives, Asian Pacific Islanders, Hispanics/Latinas, very young women, women of advanced maternal age, and people with disabilities.
