CH Innovations
Making An Impactful Difference In The Lives Of Children
CH Innovations is a division of the Charles Hood Foundation that was formed in 2015 to further advance the Hood Foundation’s mission to improve the health and quality of life for children through active investment in early-stage companies that develop and bring to market innovative, high-impact child health solutions.
CH Innovations makes Program-Related Investments
Program-Related Investments (PRIs), are a unique funding mechanism that is distinct from both grant programs and traditional investments. CH Innovations seeks to fill the gap between research and real-world application of pediatric-related tools, treatments, and other interventions to find applicable, impactful, and transformational health solutions.
Our PRI program is open to start-up, for-profit companies seeking seed-stage investors. We support a wide range of evidence-based solutions across indications, including but not limited to: diagnostic tools, medical devices, therapeutics, and healthcare IT. Child health does not need to be the primary focus for a company to qualify for PRI funding; however, any investment made through CH Innovations must be directed toward a current program developing solutions for pediatric patients (birth through late adolescence, as defined by the AAP). In addition to capital, our PRIs also provide access to an invaluable network of leading scientific, investment, and business development professionals.
Together, we can make life-changing improvements in the world around us.
Companies are selected for PRI funding through an internal vetting process. All investments are made in strict accordance with IRS Section 4944 guidelines.
Program Related Investments
(Click names for more information.)
Aldatu Biosciences
Aldatu Biosciences is a biotechnology company specializing in the development of innovative diagnostic tools for infectious diseases. Their primary technology, Pan Degenerate Amplification and Adaptation (PANDAA™), is an adaptive PCR platform designed for the detection and genotyping of pathogens with highly variable genomes. This technology enables fast, specific, and reliable diagnostic tests, contributing to pandemic preparedness and biosecurity efforts.
Anida Pharma
Advancing first-in-class treatments that activate the body’s own protective mechanism to prevent progressive eye disease and loss of vision, including a non-invasive eye drop for infants at risk of developing retinopathy of prematurity.
Argus Cognitive
Argus Cognitive is the developer of Neurora, an AI-powered, fully automated behavioral assessment platform designed to transform the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic and monitoring pathway.
BioROSA Technologies
BioROSA is developing a highly accurate blood test that will detect ASD in children as young as 18 months.
Breegi Scientific
Breegi’s flagship product, the Neonatal Intensive Care Incubator (NICI), is a portable and disposable infant incubator designed to provide critical care functions—such as heat, humidity, oxygen, and light—at approximately 1% of the cost and weight of traditional incubators. NICI aims to enhance neonatal care accessibility worldwide.
Deck Therapeutics
Deck Therapeutics is developing proprietary semi-synthetic omega-3 compounds that block multiple cell-death pathways induced by hypoxic-ischemic injury in neonates.
Inkspace Imaging
InkSpace Imaging is developing the first MR coil array designed for pediatric patients; built with proprietary printed technology, optimized to increase scan acceleration, provide exceptional image resolution, and improve patient throughput and patient experience.
Mesentech
Mesentech is a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel drug conjugates designed to deliver medicines selectively to bone tissue, aiming to reverse bone loss in conditions such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Mother’s Milk Is Best
Mulberry Biotherapeutics
Mulberry Biotherapeutics is developing a novel targeted bacteria-mediated therapy for patients affected by the rare genetic disorder neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2) and other non-cancerous neoplasms.
Neopenda
Neopenda develops affordable, needs-based medical technologies to improve healthcare in low-resource settings, focusing on newborn and child health.
Nicolette, Inc.
Nicolette is a digital patient and caregiver engagement company. Their flagship product, NicoBoard, is designed to assist parents of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients by transforming complex medical data into user-friendly visualizations, tailored educational content, and actionable insights. This tool enables parents to better understand their baby’s health status, participate actively in care decisions, and collaborate effectively with medical teams.
Nonivasix
Noninvasix is a medical technology company specializing in the non-invasive monitoring of central venous oxygenation—a critical indicator of sepsis and septic shock severity. Their patented optoacoustic platform enables real-time, continuous measurement of central venous saturation, assisting clinicians in diagnosing and monitoring tissue hypoxia.
Novonate
2023 Update: Novonate, Inc. has been acquired by Laborie Medical Technologies Corp.
Nurture Genomics
Nurture Genomics is a genomics and precision medicine company focused on expanding access to genetic screening and early disease detection in children.
Plakous Therapeutics
Plakous Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing regenerative biotherapeutics to treat inflammation-driven diseases, with a focus on early-life conditions. Its lead candidate targets necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a severe and often fatal disease affecting premature infants.
Prapela
Prapela is a medical device company specializing in noninvasive stimulation therapies aimed at improving respiratory function in newborns. Their primary innovation involves a mattress pad that delivers gentle, stochastic vibrations to enhance breathing and oxygenation in infants, particularly those affected by conditions such as apnea of prematurity (AOP) and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS).
SMöLTAP
SmölTap has developed a novel device which holds an infant stable during the lumber puncture procedure when administering a spinal tap. The device improves success rate, improves workflow, reduces stress and dramatically improves patient care.
Stingray Therapeutics
Stingray Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing innovative cancer immunotherapies. Their approach centers on modulating the tumor microenvironment to enhance the body’s innate immune response against cancer cells.
ThinkMD
THINKMD’s clinically validated platform enables users, regardless of medical training, to conduct comprehensive health assessments, identify clinical risks, and determine appropriate next steps for patients.
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