Govind Rao, professor of chemical, biochemical, and environmental engineering and director of the Center for Advanced Sensor Technology (CAST), received a $50,000 grant from the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation to automate and miniaturize a non-invasive respiration monitor for premature newborns. The National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation is funded by the Food and Drug Administration and led by the Children’s National Health System’s Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering. Rao presented the non-invasive respiration monitor at an event hosted by the University of Maryland, College Park in February and was one for five finalists to win an award from 31 original applicants. “What we’re trying to do is completely change the paradigm,” Rao said about the monitor. “Now the problem is how can I get this scaled up and out there.”
