Army Looking for Collaborators—on Device Development

There are many ways to fund product development. One that doesn't get much press is to collaborate with the U.S. Army. After you read the May issue of MD&DI, it won't be a secret any longer.

The U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) is a major contributor of funds and manpower to medical device development. The USAMRMC is the command through which the Army determines what it requires to meet the medical and health needs of its soldiers. If the technology to address a need is available, USAMRMC purchases it. If it is not available, USAMRMC finds universities and companies with which to collaborate on development, shepherds the resulting products through clinical trials and FDA approval, and purchases them for use on the battlefield and elsewhere. It enters into a variety of development contracts with firms and universities.

In most cases, if the USAMRMC is going to help fund the development of a product, the device needs to be of use to conditions on the battlefield. But it wants to hear any and all proposals.

If you are interested in developing a relationship with USAMRMC, one of the people you should get to know is William Howell, its first principal assistant for acquisition. Howell is one of the highest-ranking civilians in the Army and oversees USAMRMC's efforts, from proof of concept through FDA approval and purchasing. Howell is the subject of the Q&A feature in the May issue of MD&DI. In the interview, he explains how collaboration with the USAMRMC works, what kinds of technologies the Army is looking for, and how device companies can go about submitting an idea.

As medical devices and the challenges of funding their development get more complex, firms are going to need to come up with different ways to get their products developed and launched. For some, collaborating with the Army may be the answer. The Defense Department budget is getting bigger, while some other sources of funding are getting smaller. So, MD&DI's readers should pay attention to what Howell has to say.

Erik Swain
erik.swain@cancom.com

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