Massachusetts to Create Series of Digital Health Sandboxes

April 25, 2019
Program seeks to connect startups to innovative test beds to bolster research and development lifecycle

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has created a new grant program as part of its Digital Health Initiative that will provide $500,000 in funding to open doors for healthcare technology startups to access research and development “sandboxes.”

Gov. Charlie Baker made the announcement during a visit with Digital Health Council members at Worcester Polytechnical Institute’s PracticePoint, one of the facilities supported by the program. Healthcare startups will be able to test existing technologies and develop new products and services.

Over the next two years, the Massachusetts eHealth Institute at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MeHI) will provide financial assistance to startups, allowing them to access sandboxes.

The Sandbox program aims to boost digital health across the Commonwealth by connecting digital health companies to innovative test beds that will bolster the research and development lifecycle. Managed by MeHI, the Sandbox Grant Program will expand to include additional sandboxes across the state, providing a variety of testing environments and services. The program will help match Massachusetts-based companies with the approved sandboxes and will provide funding directly to the sandboxes to cover the costs for companies to access their R&D services, supporting the product development of homegrown startups while also expanding the user base for the sandboxes.

“The ability to test products outside of a busy hospital or active healthcare setting, yet in a facility that fully mimics these settings, is a game-changer for growing digital health companies looking to efficiently test their product and get to market quickly,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy, co-chair of the Digital Health Council, in a prepared statement. “Worcester has grown its footprint in the life sciences sector and this new program, built around the top R&D facilities offered by PracticePoint, means the region can become a driver for growth of digital health startups as well.”

 PracticePoint’s focus is “improving healthcare and patient wellness through the development of medical cyber-physical systems,” delivering a unique focus on the reliability, but also the security of digital health technologies.

Here is just a partial list of the features available to startups at PracticePoint:

• Point-of-practice clinical care suites embedded in an engineering setting to accelerate the development of medical devices and cyber-physical systems;

• A home, rehabilitation, and assistive care environment comprising a state-of-the-art motion capture suite, and a highly instrumented residential care suite;

• A hospital environment including a hybrid operating suite, magnetic resonance imaging suite, and a critical care suite;

• An existing Institutional Review Board (IRB) for user studies and focus groups; and

• Clinical partners within the WPI ecosystem, including hospital administrators, doctors, surgeons, and nursing care staff.

Sponsored Recommendations

Improving Workplace Safety and Patient Care in Behavioral Health

In 2023, Vail Health enhanced safety in their behavioral health clinic, but the impact went beyond their expectations. Read their case study to see how prioritizing workplace ...

Transforming Hospital Capacity Through Smarter Patient Progression Strategies

Helping patients move seamlessly through every stage of their care, from admission to discharge, is critical to ensuring patient safety, improving outcomes, and optimizing capacity...

Beyond the AI Buzz: How Clinicians Can Leverage AI for Value-Based Success

Watch on-demand to explore the impact of implementing AI in primary care settings to reduce burnout and thrive in value-based care. Including practical takeaways on driving clinician...

Building the Connected Hospital: Bridging Operational Gaps Through Technology

Join industry leaders to explore how advanced technologies like RFID, AI, EMR, and ERP systems are transforming hospitals into connected ecosystems that enhance efficiency, streamline...