Six pediatric medical device innovations that address a significant yet unmet pediatric need were awarded a total of $250,000 in grant money at the third annual National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI) Competition. ApiFix was awarded a $25,000 grant for its minimally invasive correction system for patients with a spinal deformity known as Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). According to ApiFix Chairman Ted Bird: “What is remarkable is the phenomenal support that we have from a local group of mothers with teenage daughters with AIS. They brought this competition to our attention and were instrumental in bringing our technology to the attention of the competition organizers, which probably helped us in the process of being selected as a finalist. One of the mothers organized a meeting this morning with two other “Scoli Mom’s,” together with a local spine surgeon for a review and discussion of our technology”. The ApiFix ratchet-based system has been used successfully in more than 70 patients. The FDA funded consortium, led by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System and the A. James Clark School of Engineering at the University of Maryland, awarded $50,000 to four companies and $25,000 to two companies.