Biodesign & Innovation

The Health Technology Innovation Training Pathway (HTITP) is a subtrack of the residency research track at Montefiore Einstein Emergency Medicine Education. Health technologies, including therapeutics, medical devices and digital tools, have significant potential to transform healthcare delivery and advance personalized medicine. Originally created for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Montefiore Hospital, Moses Campus, and Jack D. Weiler Hospital, Einstein Campus, HTITP is now available to residents in the Department of Emergency Medicine as part of the research track.

Participants in the HTITP must complete an experiential innovation project, mentored by Montefiore Einstein faculty, with the option of additional external mentors. The innovation project will include a research or validation component to meet the requirements of the research track. Participants will select a mentor and develop or join an ongoing innovation project during postgraduate year one (PGY-1).

Throughout the Program, participants will have opportunities to collaborate with the Einstein Office of Biotechnology and Business Development to identify strategic partnerships at Montefiore Einstein, explore external funding options (such as foundation, federal and industry-based grants or external seed investments) and discover external opportunities for product development and sustainability (like the Entrepreneurship Lab NYC—ELabNYC accelerator, strategic partnerships and licensing opportunities).

The didactic curriculum for the HTITP, supplemented by cases, exercises and readings discussed during small group meetings, includes Zoom-based seminars on topics such as the biodesign process, digital health technologies, market assessment and value propositions, and intellectual property and regulatory considerations. Additional topics include solution and product validation, key performance indicators and strategic partnerships. These seminars, delivered by Montefiore Einstein faculty with relevant expertise and external experts, are audio-recorded. HTITP participants are expected to attend the seminars or review the recordings if they are unable to attend the live sessions.

At the end of the Program, each training program participant will present their innovation project through a pitch session. After completing the Program, participants will be encouraged to stay in contact with their mentors and can request additional ad hoc mentors to help develop and sustain their projects.

The HTITP encourages team-based innovation, and the applicant can build a team of collaborators before applying or find collaborators during the first year of participating in the HTITP. While not all collaborators need to be part of the research track, the applicant will have sole responsibility for assignments and deliverables.

Aevice is a prospective cohort study evaluating the effectiveness of AeviceMD, the world’s smallest digital stethoscope and winner of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2023 Digital Health Innovation Award. It was developed in Singapore by Aevice.

ASTHMAXcel/COPDXcel studies iterative adaptive development of a suite of patient-facing apps designed to assist with self-management of chronic diseases. The project builds on work by Dr. Jariwala, which was funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

The Bridging the Gap Study is a mixed-methods study designed to understand the readiness of emergency department (ED) patients to engage in health behavior change and how digital health can support positive behaviors during the post-ED care transition. The project is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health—NIH (CTSA UM1TR004400).