Solutions bring advanced neuromodulation technology one step closer to the clinic.
Neuromodulation has been an established treatment for some neurological conditions for decades, but today, the field stands at an inflection point. A growing body of research and collaboration across specialties has led to an improved understanding of the interactions between the nervous system and target tissues and organs. At the same time, advances in material science and medical device technology have opened new opportunities and clinical applications. Thanks to these breakthroughs, neuromodulation has the potential to treat nearly any condition in the body, positioning the technology as one of the most exciting frontiers in modern medicine. This is no longer a niche focus area, but realizing the full potential of neuromodulation will require better clinical translation and improved collaborations between industry, research, and government.
Since 2022, the Neuromod Prize, a $9.8 million competition to accelerate the development of targeted neuromodulation therapies, has provided resources and funding to help advance cutting-edge science closer to patients. Sponsored by the SPARC initiative from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the multiphase prize was designed to close the gap between early-stage research and clinical use. On October 20, the Phase 3 teams presented their solutions to an audience of health tech leaders, innovators, and investors and the prize announced the Phase 3 winners during the live finalist showcase at HLTH 2025.
Congratulations to the Phase 3 winners:
- First-place winner University of Pittsburgh Department of Urology will receive $3 million. This team created a multichannel implantable device for sacral-pudendal neuromodulation that addresses bladder, bowel, and sexual disorders.
- Second-place winner Juniper Biomedical (formerly RBI Medical) will receive $1.6 million. This team developed a highly precise, micro-implantable neuromodulation to treat stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and fecal incontinence.
The winning teams’ devices can be adjusted for individualized treatment, have limited or no side effects, and are now ready to be considered for approval in clinical use.
How the multiphase prize unfolded
In 2022, 45 participants submitted concept papers to Phase 1 of the competition, describing their proposed therapeutic approaches and plans for conducting proof-of-concept studies, rationale for therapeutic use, and potential clinical impact. Eight Phase 1 winners received $100,000 each and advanced to Phase 2, building on their submissions by conducting proof-of-concept studies. In 2024, four Phase 2 winners received $1 million each and were invited to Phase 3, where they conducted Investigational Device Exemption (IDE)-enabling studies using diverse approaches to stimulate a range of targets, including the spinal, sacral, pelvic, and vagus nerves. The $5 million Phase 3 awarded $400,000 in interim prizes, and also offered technical assistance and additional resources to help teams accelerate and develop their solutions.
The Neuromod Prize, designed and produced by Luminary Labs, is a SPARC initiative from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). SPARC — Stimulating Peripheral Activity to Relieve Conditions — is an NIH Common Fund program that’s advancing the science of neuromodulation. SPARC’s mission is to catalyze the development of next-generation therapies that target the peripheral nervous system, and to bring together innovators from across disciplines to translate discoveries into treatments that improve patients’ lives.