“We knew that we had an innovative concept, but [we] needed to ensure that we were taking the correct steps that would help us reach commercialization in a timely and cost-efficient manner.”

Professor James Rains and Georgia Tech Alumnus Mr. Kamil Makhnejia with Jackson Medical discussed the questions researchers and innovators must answer and what they should anticipate from a funding and development timeline standpoint at the earliest stages of the pathway in their medical product concept’s journey toward commercialization.

• What do you do with your idea for a new technology or perhaps even a prototype you think has commercial potential, but aren’t sure about the next steps?

• What is easy to overlook in the early stages of a medical technology’s pathway to commercialization but can be fatal to the project?

• How do you determine if there is a customer willing to pay for your solution?

• How do you clinically validate a product and when does that process need to start?

They used “Phase Zero” – a program run by Georgia Tech affiliate the Global Center for Medical Innovation (GCMI) – to streamline their pathway from concept to commercialization for their novel medical device that reduces the potential for never events like burns and fires in operating rooms.

Watch and listen to Professor Rains’ and Mr. Makhneija’s insights as shared with Children’s Heathcare of Atlanta Pediatric Technology Center Chief Engineer Leanne West.