Armor Medical Selected for Next Challenge Phase of NIH’s RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge

Sources: NIH - NIH selects next round of winners in the RADx® Tech for Maternal Health Challenge; Challenge.Gov

Armor Medical, with Washington University in St. Louis, has been selected as one of ten teams to receive $75,000 and advance through the second round of the National Institutes of Health’s Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics Technology (RADx Tech) for Maternal Health Challenge. This challenge is part of the NIH’s larger RADx Tech initiative, which aims to speed up the development, validation, and commercialization of innovative diagnostic technologies for COVID-19 and other public health threats.

Armor Medical’s product, Maternal aRMOR, is a wearable sensor that provides early detection of postpartum hemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Maternal aRMOR is designed to alert healthcare providers to cardiovascular changes indicative of excessive bleeding, allowing for timely intervention and potentially saving lives.

“We are honored to be selected for the next phase of the RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge,” said Kelsey Mayo, CEO of Armor Medical. “Our team has been working tirelessly to develop Maternal aRMOR and we are excited to have the opportunity to receive additional funding and resources to help bring this technology to market.”

According to a recent press release from the NIH, Armor Medical and the other selected teams were chosen based on the scientific and technical merit of their proposed diagnostic technologies, as well as the feasibility of their development plans. During the next phase of the RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge, Armor Medical will compete to receive up to $800,000 in funding and resources to help further develop and validate its technology. The company will also receive mentoring and guidance from leading experts in the maternal health and medical device fields.

About NIH RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge

The U.S. maternal mortality rate is the highest of any developed nation (Commonwealth Fund, 2020) and continues to climb. This public health crisis is exacerbated by the fact that millions of individuals live in “maternity care deserts” with little or no access to maternity care (March of Dimes, 2020). In response, the National Institutes of Health launched the RADx Tech for Maternal Health Challenge to help improve health outcomes in maternity care deserts.

Amount of the Prize: The total prize purse for this challenge is $8,000,000. Prizes will be awarded following the successful completion of each phase of the challenge in the following amounts:

Viability Assessment - $20,000 per winner; up to 25 winners

Deep Dive Assessment - $75,000 per winner; up to 12 winners

Technology Assessment – prizes will be disbursed across the following stages within this Phase:

• Interim Milestone: up to $300,000 per winner; up to 10 winners

• Testing & Verification: up to $500,000 per winner; up to 6 winners

About Armor Medical Inc

Armor Medical is a medical device company focused on improving maternal health through innovative technologies. The company’s flagship product, Maternal aRMOR, is a wearable sensor that provides early detection of postpartum hemorrhage, a leading cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Armor Medical Inc is headquartered in St. Louis, MO, and was founded in 2022. For more information, visit ArmorMedical.us.