Houston-based PolyVascular was named the overall winner of the American Heart Association's annual Health Tech Competition at Scientific Sessions 2025, earning top honors for its innovative approach to treating congenital heart disease in children. The company's technology represents a significant advancement in pediatric cardiac care, addressing a critical need in cardiovascular medicine where nearly half of U.S. adults live with some form of cardiovascular disease or stroke according to Association statistics.
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. Both PolyVascular and science category winner Brainomix of Oxford, England will 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.
PolyVascular's winning technology focuses on developing minimally invasive solutions for children with congenital heart disease, specifically a valve that can be expanded over time to grow with the child. This approach has the potential to dramatically reduce the need for repeated open-heart surgeries, allowing children to enjoy healthier, more carefree lives. Dr. Henri Justino, co-founder of PolyVascular, emphasized the significance of this advancement, noting that it's time these life-changing technologies reach the youngest patients just as they already do for adults.
The competition evaluated solutions based on three key criteria: validity of the working prototype or product in the market, scientific rigor using evidence-based health research, and impact on improving patient outcomes through innovative technology. Star Jones, attorney, TV personality and American Heart Association national volunteer who served as one of this year's judges, described the competition as the Association's version of Shark Tank, showcasing innovations that have the potential to transform care and reach people where they live, work and play.
Other finalists in the competition included Brainomix, which creates AI-powered software to improve stroke diagnosis and treatment decisions; Lumia of Boston, delivering wearable solutions for people with orthostatic intolerance and chronic blood flow disorders; Noah Labs of Berlin, transforming voice into a digital biomarker for earlier intervention in cardiometabolic diseases; and Cambrian Health of San Francisco, building an AI-powered platform that ensures clinical best practices are executed at the point of care. The competition highlights the growing importance of digital health solutions in addressing cardiovascular health challenges, particularly as the field moves toward more personalized and accessible care models. More information about the competition is available at ahahealthtech.org/aha-health-tech-competition-2025.
The recognition of these technologies comes at a critical time when cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death worldwide. The American Heart Association's focus on health technology innovation reflects the growing recognition that traditional approaches alone cannot address the scale of cardiovascular health challenges. By supporting companies like PolyVascular and Brainomix, the Association aims to accelerate the development and implementation of solutions that can make meaningful differences in patient outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations like children with congenital heart conditions who currently face multiple invasive procedures throughout their development.
