“As Pfizer scientists continue to collaborate across our industry in researching therapies and vaccination candidates for this pandemic, we also want to help support ways to minimize any gaps in care due to the reduced clinical visits this situation has caused.”
Jim Mangione, Director of Emerging Technologies at Pfizer
[Chapel Hill, NC, June 10, 2020] Overnight, the world has gone virtual. COVID-19 has created a worldwide crisis that has shaken our communities to the core. Beyond the dangers of the virus itself, its impact will ripple through our economy and healthcare system for years. However, the present crisis creates an opportunity for our communities, policymakers, healthcare organizations, and technology innovators to come together and create new solutions. As a community, we can solve problems not only related to COVID-19, but also those which are sustained long after the pandemic has passed to support the healthcare system’s transformation from in-hospital care to remote care. That is why two Research Triangle-based organizations—the ASSIST Center (Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies) based at North Carolina State University and DHIT (the Digital Health Institute for Transformation) launched a virtual crowdsourced incubator, COVID-19 Unites Us All, to serve as an innovation engine for advanced remote care by sourcing ideas from the ecosystem and nurturing them from inception to implementation.
Today, DHIT and ASSIST are announcing the latest addition to their Program Champions—Pfizer. Pfizer has long been an industry leader in the biopharmaceutical industry, applying science and global resources to deliver breakthroughs that change peoples’ lives.
“We are so excited to have Pfizer join us in establishing this crowdsourced community of status-quo challengers,” says Michael Levy, President of DHIT. “The time is now to accelerate innovation in remote care through crowdsourced ideas. Great ideas abound, and this program will serve as a vehicle to incubate innovation throughout the crisis and beyond.”
“As Pfizer scientists continue to collaborate across our industry in researching therapies and vaccination candidates for this pandemic, we also want to help support ways to minimize any gaps in care due to the reduced clinical visits this situation has caused,” says Jim Mangione, Director of Emerging Technologies at Pfizer. “Digital health platforms such as remote monitoring, complemented by predictive analytics to recognize early signs of concern, are advancing rapidly in response to more of our at-risk population sheltering at home.”
This incubator will help capture the next wave of innovation within the remote monitoring ecosystem and has the capacity to execute on those with the highest impact – and do it fast. We’re proud to be a part of this program.”
The program launched on the Crowdicity platform on May 29th to a worldwide audience. In response to Challenges, participants can submit their ideas and view the ideas of others to upvote and comment on them.
For organizations interested in partnering, please contact [email protected].
ABOUT Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients’ Lives
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world.
For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.
ABOUT DHIT
The Digital Health Institute for Transformation (DHIT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit education and research institute supporting communities through the process of digital health transformation. We collaborate with leading academic institutions, associations, and industry to cultivate talent and ecosystems with our immersive learning platform, harnessing real-world experiences that drive the adoption of next generation skills, emerging technologies, and mindsets needed to foster the digital health leaders and innovators of the future, today. For more information, visit dhitglobal.org.
ABOUT THE ASSIST CENTER
The Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) at North Carolina State University develops leading-edge systems for high-value applications such as healthcare and IoT by integrating fundamental advances in energy harvesting, low-power electronics, and sensors with a focus on usability and actionable data. For more information visit assistcenter.org.
If you would like more information on this topic, please contact [email protected].