PolyVascular, a Houston-based company, was named the overall winner of the American Heart Association's annual Health Tech Competition at Scientific Sessions 2025. The competition recognizes innovative health technologies that could help address cardiovascular disease and stroke, which affect nearly half of U.S. adults according to the American Heart Association. The Health Tech Competition serves as a live forum for health care innovators to present digital solutions for treating or preventing cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Finalists addressed clinical problems including heart failure, hypertension, congenital heart defects and other pressing issues in cardiovascular, brain and metabolic health. Solutions were evaluated based on three key criteria: validity of the working prototype, scientific rigor of validation research, and impact on improving patient outcomes through innovative technology.
PolyVascular's winning technology features a minimally invasive valve that can be expanded over time to grow with the child, potentially dramatically reducing the need for repeated open-heart surgeries. Henri Justino, M.D., co-founder of PolyVascular, stated, "This is a tremendous honor for PolyVascular - we're especially proud to bring hope to families and children living with congenital heart defects. Our technology has the potential to dramatically reduce the need for repeated open-heart surgeries." Brainomix of Oxford, England was awarded best in the science category for developing AI-powered software to improve stroke diagnosis and treatment decisions. Both companies will be invited to join the Association's Center for Health Technology & Innovation Innovators' Network, a consortium that connects entrepreneurs, providers, researchers and payers to advance innovation in cardiovascular and brain health. Additional information about the competition is available at https://ahahealthtech.org/aha-health-tech-competition-2025.
Other finalists included Lumia from Boston, delivering wearable solutions for people with orthostatic intolerance and chronic blood flow disorders; Noah Labs from Berlin, transforming voice into a digital biomarker for earlier intervention in cardiometabolic diseases; and Cambrian Health from San Francisco, building an AI-powered platform that ensures clinical best practices are executed at the point of care. The competition judging panel included medical experts, venture capitalists, and health technology leaders who evaluated the potential of these innovations to transform cardiovascular and brain health care delivery. The recognition highlights the critical need for advancements in pediatric cardiovascular care, where reducing invasive procedures can significantly improve quality of life for young patients and their families. This award underscores the growing emphasis on minimally invasive technologies in medicine, particularly for vulnerable populations like children with congenital conditions.
The implications of PolyVascular's achievement extend beyond the competition itself, signaling a shift toward more adaptive medical devices that accommodate patient growth and development. By addressing the challenge of repeated surgeries in pediatric cardiology, this innovation could reduce healthcare costs, minimize surgical risks, and decrease emotional and physical burdens on patients. The competition's focus on scientific rigor and patient impact reflects broader trends in health technology evaluation, where evidence-based outcomes are paramount. As cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality globally, such innovations are crucial for advancing treatment paradigms and improving long-term health outcomes. The integration of companies like PolyVascular and Brainomix into the Association's Innovators' Network may accelerate the translation of these technologies from prototype to clinical practice, fostering collaboration across the healthcare ecosystem.
